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14 Relatable Times Toxic Employers Lost It and Humiliated Themselves While Texting Their Employees

Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell whether your boss is deliberately toxic or simply withdrawn.

14 Relatable Times Toxic Employers Lost It and Humiliated Themselves While Texting Their Employees

Some bosses turn a simple text message into a full-blown power trip, and the results can be painfully familiar. In this roundup, employees share the moments their managers crossed the line, from holiday scheduling pressure to pay disputes and last-minute demands that made no sense at all.

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The screenshots below show just how messy workplace communication can get when an employer is rude, careless, or completely out of touch. A few of the texts are petty, some are absurd, and others are so unreasonable they practically explain why the employee stopped caring.

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Read on for 14 toxic boss texts that left employees stunned.

1. An employer trying to force their employee to work during the holidays, even though the employee made it clear they would be unavailable

1. An employer trying to force their employee to work during the holidays, even though the employee made it clear they would be unavailablereddit.com / Via reddit.com
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Text messages show an employer demanding holiday work and withholding a paycheck.reddit.com / Via reddit.com
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Smartphone screen text depicts an employer accusing a former worker of equipment damage.reddit.com / Via reddit.com

2. This employer trying to withhold their ex-employee's paycheck and wrongly accusing them of breaking equipment

2. This employer trying to withhold their ex-employee's paycheck and wrongly accusing them of breaking equipmentreddit.com / Via reddit.com

That text already says enough.

Person reacts to a boss texting late at night, choosing not to respond.reddit.com / Via reddit.com Workplace scheduling text shows a boss planning a 20-hour shift without consent.reddit.com / Via reddit.com

3. "My buddy's boss last night. Good for him, but I wouldn't have answered."

3. "My buddy's boss last night. Good for him, but I wouldn't have answered."rumbletumblecrumble

4. A boss trying to schedule their employee for a 20-hour shift without obtaining their consent

4. A boss trying to schedule their employee for a 20-hour shift without obtaining their consentreddit.com / Via reddit.com COVID-positive employee receives urgent work texting while traveling for winter break.reddit.com / Via reddit.com

That request did not land well.

This is also like when a coworker begged to adopt the office cat you bonded with.

5. "So I'm five days into my COVID-positive reading, and my boss sends me this because she's short-staffed, and I'm still feeling absolutely ill. I'm in Florida for winter break, and she's back in NC, meaning I would have to fly while COVID-positive."

5. "So I'm five days into my COVID-positive reading, and my boss sends me this because she's short-staffed, and I'm still feeling absolutely ill. I'm in Florida for winter break, and she's back in NC, meaning I would have to fly while COVID-positive."Skaifur

6. A boss trying to get their ex-employee back

6. A boss trying to get their ex-employee backreddit.com / Via reddit.com Manager texts months after an employee quit, offering pressure to return.reddit.com / Via reddit.com

7. "I quit a job where I was overworked and underpaid and found a more stable, better-paying job. My manager texts me months later."

7. "I quit a job where I was overworked and underpaid and found a more stable, better-paying job. My manager texts me months later."Stardied

Some managers really do keep score.

8. A boss who won't tolerate a second of lateness

8. A boss who won't tolerate a second of latenessreddit.com / Via reddit.com

9. "I texted my boss that I couldn't make it in today."

9. "I texted my boss that I couldn't make it in today."naikeez

10. A boss giving three hours' notice to their employees

10. A boss giving three hours' notice to their employeesreddit.com / Via reddit.com

11. "My boss texted me an assignment on my day off."

11. "My boss texted me an assignment on my day off."YIKUZZ Restaurant manager texts about surveillance cameras, contrasted with complaints about plumbing repairs.YIKUZZ

12. "My boss just installed $6,000 cameras instead of paying for new bathroom pipes that stink up the restaurant."

12. "My boss just installed $6,000 cameras instead of paying for new bathroom pipes that stink up the restaurant."PinkBerryies

Even the tone is a problem here.

13. "The passive-aggressiveness from my boss. By the way, I’m only 17 and working a part-time job."

13. "The passive-aggressiveness from my boss. By the way, I’m only 17 and working a part-time job."[deleted]

Having a toxic person as a boss is not something anyone would wish for. Besides the fact that they taint the working environment, they also create a culture where individuals are hesitant to speak out or request help.

As time passes, the toxicity can destroy the worker’s confidence, negatively influence their work, and diminish their mental capacity.

And that is exactly why these texts hit so hard.

Want more workplace chaos? See how to handle a chatty coworker who keeps interrupting your work.

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