How to Appropriately Interact with a Mean Boss

Unfortunately, at least once in each person's lifetime we experience the presence of that stereotypical mean, nasty, snappy, moody, low-down, no-good boss (you catch my drift). When that time comes for you, you will need these tips to help you survive the experience.

In order to ensure that you make it through this relationship with honors you'll need to practice on your suck-up skills, be cunning and potentially use of some "little" white lies.

To make sure that you don't expose yourself to your boss' "feel good" attitude, avoid contact as much as possible. For example, if you see him roaming down the hallway, make your escape to the closest file room, or if you catch him heading towards your cubicle, pick the phone and signal that you'll get back to him ASAP.

If you share the same sex as your boss, try to keep tabs of his or her bathroom routine, most people actually do have one and you want to avoid any uncomfortable sink to sink or stall to stall encounters, mostly if your boss is the type that likes to chat while "going".

Try to work away from the office as much as possible by being the "I'll do it" employee when the boss asks for a volunteer to go oversee any operations that are outside the office.

A good way to get twice as much time away from your boss is by scheduling your time off to not match your boss' time off. That way when you're off, the boss is at work and when the boss is off you're at work. It sounds extreme, but anyone that has had a boss that matches the description of "mean boss" will understand how overwhelming it is to cope with a person like this.

When your boss starts acting up and acts like a jerk, you must remain serene and diplomatic, even if you feel like snapping. I'm not saying this so you become a punching bag or a masochist, acting calm when a boss is being a bully, will only annoy him or her more because they can't get a reaction from you, which is why most bully's act the way they do.

Don't give your boss the chance of getting under your skin. After all, you have a life outside of the workplace and you will only have to deal with this person at work.

If someone at the office is looking for your boss, give the impression that you're covering for him. People will just assume the boss is guilty of something and feel for you. Be apologetic for your boss not being around to attend to them.

Always cover your back, write everything you do to have proof of your hard work so your boss doesn't take the credit for what you do at work. Also keep track of the inappropriate or rude comments he or she directs towards you (don't keep this information in your work computer).

File reports in an anonymous manner with other Personnel, whether it is about inappropriate use of the company's computer or unacceptable behavior that isn't right in the workplace. In essence you won't be lying, just pointing out the truth at hand.

Make a positive impression on your boss' superiors. Like the law of gravity "what goes up, most come down" bosses with an attitude that bring down the morale of other employees always get their due sooner or later, and by making an impression on his or her superiors you will strategically place yourself to go up the ladder when the boss gets canned, or at least you won't risk getting fired.

According to survey performed by the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, 37% of bosses don't give due credit to employees that deserve it, 39% fail to keep their word, and 27% trash-talk the employees they supervise with other coworkers.