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Bad manager and boss problems people post on Reddit

People post about bad bosses on Reddit most when they are trying to leave, get paid fairly or stop being undermined. This page collects 51 such problems from 53 posts between Oct 21 and Nov 2, 2026.

Resignations come up again and again, from a manager refusing to accept one to a boss pressuring someone to stay. Pay and promotion is another theme, including employees passed over because they were too useful where they were. A third is managers who undermine people behind their backs or tell clients someone has left.

Many posts are about what a manager does without saying so: a meeting with a boss's boss booked for the next morning, a warning not to sell a house after a private equity buyout, or a reputation quietly damaged to "protect" someone. Others ask where the line is, such as whether a manager can reject a resignation or make someone use their own car for work. Hiring managers come up too, including one who asked a candidate not to warn their references before calling them.

The problems are listed with post counts and first-seen dates, and 2 briefs so far.

By PainPoint Daily Team · Last updated

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Ranked problems

  1. My manager admitted I was passed over for promotion because the department would fall apart without me. Is it… 1 post · first seen Oct 28, 2026 Brief: Promo Terms Kit
  2. My manager told me not to sell my house after our company was acquired by private equity. Should I be worried? 1 post · first seen Oct 25, 2026
  3. At 7 PM tonight, I received an invite for a 30 minute meeting scheduled tomorrow morning with my boss's boss… 1 post · first seen Oct 23, 2026
  4. The hiring manager asked me NOT to give my references a heads-up before calling them 1 post · first seen Oct 30, 2026
  5. Found out my manager has been telling clients I left the company. I still work here? 1 post · first seen Oct 29, 2026
  6. Can my manager reject my resignation? 1 post · first seen Oct 29, 2026
  7. How to handle dropping abrupt resignation on a good boss knowing it will cost him? 1 post · first seen Nov 1, 2026
  8. Boss is asking me to use my car work for 1 post · first seen Oct 24, 2026
  9. How do you recover from a boss who secretly ruined your reputation by trying to "protect" you? 1 post · first seen Oct 30, 2026
  10. What should you talk about in manager 1-on-1s in your first corporate job? 1 post · first seen Oct 24, 2026
  1. Was I in the wrong for not informing my boss about an interview? 1 post · first seen Oct 28, 2026
  2. My manager expects me to speak up in meetings but never gives me the space to do so. What do I do? 1 post · first seen Nov 2, 2026
  3. No responses for job applications. It looks like a blackhole. Does it help if I send my resume directly to… 2 posts · first seen Oct 26, 2026
  4. Would you tell your boss if one of your clients tried to recruit you? 1 post · first seen Oct 27, 2026
  5. Handed in my resignation, but my boss is trying hard to keep me in his circle. What do I do? 1 post · first seen Oct 26, 2026
  6. How do you handle a manager who admits they failed to coach you, then suddenly questions your performance? 1 post · first seen Oct 24, 2026
  7. Hiring manager asked me what I thought about the job after final interview? 1 post · first seen Oct 23, 2026
  8. Manager wants to extend my W-2 contract. Should I push for a raise or just play it safe? 1 post · first seen Oct 24, 2026
  9. Thoughts on pursuing Starbucks store manager as a long-term career? 1 post · first seen Oct 25, 2026
  10. Is it possible to be a manager without being an obvious people’s person? 1 post · first seen Oct 28, 2026
  11. Would you quit a well-paid, fully remote job because of your manager? 1 post · first seen Oct 28, 2026
  12. Does anyone else have a manager who talks in circles and constantly comes up with new ideas? How do you deal… 1 post · first seen Oct 30, 2026
  13. I'm a graphic designer, he's a manager's friend treated as a graphic designer. What do I do? 1 post · first seen Oct 27, 2026
  14. Does my managers manager do anything about manager complaints or they’re just there to talk sweetly? 1 post · first seen Nov 2, 2026
  15. I've been a project manager for 20 years but am tired of corporations, what unique careers could I apply my… 1 post · first seen Oct 28, 2026
  16. I’m the kitchen manger at a small restaurant and having troubles with the general manager 1 post · first seen Nov 1, 2026
  17. Is my manager bullying me and trying to push me out? 1 post · first seen Nov 2, 2026
  18. Recruiters/hiring managers: Is my employment history now a serious obstacle to getting another tech job? 2 posts · first seen Nov 1, 2026
  19. I've been at my new company 4 months and I'm going back to my old one. How do I tell my manager? 1 post · first seen Oct 28, 2026
  20. Should I talk to my boss about this? 1 post · first seen Oct 23, 2026
  21. I am a mid 20s people manager, does the stress get easier to manage? 1 post · first seen Oct 27, 2026
  22. Entry level to manager in <1 year - should I chase the promotion? 1 post · first seen Nov 1, 2026
  23. How do I set myself up for success after my boss leaves? Should I prepare an exit plan eventually? 1 post · first seen Oct 30, 2026
  24. Company may hire a bilingual replacement for part of my role, and the big boss is unpredictable and worried I… 1 post · first seen Oct 25, 2026
  25. Hiring manager interview without a recruiter screen—is this common? 1 post · first seen Oct 30, 2026
  26. I'm having a 4th and final interview with the regional manager. They told me this will be a more "casual"… 1 post · first seen Oct 24, 2026
  27. How to overcome anxiety when talking to managers?? 1 post · first seen Oct 30, 2026
  28. What are some questions to ask hiring managers to assess openmindedness and willingness to engage with other… 1 post · first seen Oct 26, 2026
  29. Expecting a manager offer with a November start. How do I bring up two to three weeks off in January for my… 1 post · first seen Oct 29, 2026
  30. My manager asked me questions about religion, political affiliation and immigration 1 post · first seen Oct 29, 2026
  31. Not being assigned managerial tasks like my co-workers - red flag or no? 1 post · first seen Oct 25, 2026
  32. Store's co-manager constantly undermining me, only me, and only when I'm not there 1 post · first seen Oct 27, 2026
  33. Intern built a full-stack project, boss says nobody can maintain it if I leave. How do I negotiate without… 1 post · first seen Oct 23, 2026
  34. 24, how do i approach my boss to negotiate future salary? 1 post · first seen Oct 22, 2026
  35. Accidentally found proof of some coworkers belittling me. Should I bring it up to my boss? 1 post · first seen Oct 22, 2026
  36. Boss is leaving-risk? 1 post · first seen Oct 22, 2026
  37. How common is a three person panel for a first interview at the manager level? 1 post · first seen Oct 21, 2026
  38. Planning on quitting. Have an interview tomorrow but a quarterly meeting with my boss before hand. She's… 1 post · first seen Oct 21, 2026
  39. Why is my coworker friendly with me after I told our manager he wasn't training me? 1 post · first seen Oct 22, 2026
  40. Would I be dumb to move from Sr. Product Manager to Project Manager? 1 post · first seen Oct 22, 2026 Brief: Role Ladder Compare
  41. Would it be wrong to quit right after my manager leaves? 1 post · first seen Oct 21, 2026

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FAQ

What are the most common bad manager problems?

This page lists 51 bad manager problems from 53 Reddit posts between Oct 21, 2026 and Nov 2, 2026.

Where does this data come from?

We collect public Reddit posts where someone is stuck or asking for help from a growing list of subreddits, merge near-duplicates and rank them by a daily score. See our methodology for the full process.

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