Toxic bosses are driving workers to seek therapy, survey shows

New York — Around 2 out of 5 workers who say they have or have had a toxic boss have sought therapy as a result, results of a recent survey show.

Researchers from the Harris Poll conducted an online survey of a nationally representative sample of more than 1,200 adult workers. A “toxic boss” refers to a boss or supervisor who has exhibited any toxic behaviors, including micromanaging, stealing credit, setting unreasonable expectations, engaging in unprofessional behavior and being unapproachable.

About 70% of the workers said they’ve worked for a toxic boss, while 31% currently do.

Overall, 53% of the workers said they’ve worked on weekends, holidays or days off because of their boss. Anxiety caused by a toxic boss is extensive: 73% of the respondents reported experiencing weekend anxiety over returning to work on Monday. Additionally, 53% reported they’ve had nightmares about their boss, while some have experienced issues in job performance and their personal lives.

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of those who’ve endured a toxic boss did so because of financial reasons, while the same percentage cited convenience factors such as proximity to home and fixed work schedules.

Having a boss who’s respectful and creates a positive work environment could create several benefits, the workers noted. The most common cited were workers being more productive (85%), giving extra effort on the job (83%), having a willingness to take on more responsibility (81%), and engaging more with teams/staying in positions longer/recommending their employer to others (80%).