More than 200 shocking stories of toxic bosses from across Australia have been submitted to the “Australia’s Worst Boss” campaign, launched by HR tech company Compono. Now, the public has the chance to vote for the most outrageous tale of poor leadership.
What is the “Australia’s Worst Boss” Campaign?
The campaign highlights the serious issue of toxic leadership and poor management practices in Australian workplaces. By sharing these stories, they aim to spark conversations about workplace wellbeing, leadership development, and building healthier work environments.
How to Get Involved
The 10 most unbelievable stories of bad bosses have been shortlisted, and Australians can vote for the worst boss until 28 September. The winner will be announced on 13 October, with the person who submitted the story receiving a $5,000 holiday voucher and a “career glow-up,” including three sessions with a corporate psychologist.
How to Spot the Worst Boss?
Here’s a glimpse of some of the worst leadership examples:
- A micromanaging boss who insisted his employee remain on call 24/7, even when snorkelling overseas on holiday.
- A boss who forced staff to watch his recreations of historic battles using 18th-century figurines at the office.
- A boss whose $200k luxury car parked outside led staff to recognise it signalled layoffs were coming, before he fled with $20 million.
- A manager who berated an employee while they were in the hospital emergency department for not reporting her absence quickly enough.
Why Toxic Leadership Matters
According to Compono’s CEO, Rudy Crous (an experienced corporate psychologist) these shocking stories highlight the deeper problem of bad leadership in Australia.
“It’s easy to shake your head at how extreme some of these stories are, but behind every story
is someone who felt disrespected, stressed or undervalued and let down by poor leadership,”
said Mr Crous, who has spent 20 years helping organisations address workplace dysfunction.
“For too long, signs of bad leadership have been brushed off as personality quirks or just part of
the job. But bad leadership isn’t just an inconvenience – it destroys careers, damages mental
health, and cripples organisations.
The campaign encourages open dialogue about improving leadership skills and creating healthier workplaces. Crous also noted that many bad bosses lack the proper support or training to lead effectively.
Make Your Vote Count
For every vote cast, Compono will donate $1 to mental health charity R U OK?, reinforcing its commitment to workplace wellbeing.
Read the Top 10 Stories and cast your vote for Australia’s Worst Boss Story here.
