Unfortunately this is a very small company with no one to complain to except the bosses themselves. My boss is the owner. Two owners, two employees, that’s it. The bosses are related. They have different ways of doing things, but they are very much a team, even if they argue about so many things.

Every employee that I’ve worked with there has had issues with the boss and couldn’t stand her and was fired or quit (5 employees in all since I’ve been there, and my current coworker can’t stand her either). And, I’ve frequently heard from the boss about other past employees..this is years after they’re gone she is still telling negative stories about them. Obviously it is demoralizing to hear this stuff!

I feel like I have to be perfect and as smart as the boss. How could she think I’m smart when I lack her experience? Experience brings confidence and I’ve had to fake confidence this last few years working there. As soon as I get comfortable in one part of the job, I’m learning more. That’s good, and I appreciate the opportunity, which is what keeps me from looking elsewhere. I am getting a well rounded education in my field there. So professionally it’s good, and I’ve been focusing on being professional. I understand that being able to learn is good enough, but sometimes I’m learning too real time and getting scolded about how long it’s taking me! There are time management issues happening right and left and we are not very coordinated. I think we’ll be having a meeting soon, so I am looking forward to that. The meeting will be considered as training, and hopefully it is training and not confrontational!

But, I didn’t sleep but an hour or two last night. TGIF. I do think I was triggered repeatedly this last month and have been feeling a lot of emotional strain. It’s not all work stressing and triggering me, but definitely my boss’s attitude this month has been extra and it’s nearly unbearable at work because of that. It’s impossibly to ignore her squawking all the time! My coworker puts in her earbuds whenever the boss comes in like that (because she is not directly talking to the coworker).

I wish I had the guts to say “I’m busy!!” The thing is, the boss knows 100% that I have work to do and plenty of it. She even apologizes sometimes for it but she loves to vent and show off and get attention, so she does it anyway.

Anyway. Thank you fellow posters SO much for giving me feedback.

It will always require a delicate balance of emotional control, and professionalism at work with this boss..it will not change. She gets what she wants by being condescending and petulant. I have to deal with it or change jobs!! Working there makes me want to get out of office work all together!