💡 Every vote counts. Every vote donates $1 to RUOK? (up to $5,000).
One of the Worst Ten Bosses:
The Severance Snake
Story submitted by Jess
At my old company redundancies were signalled by a $200,000 luxury car parked out front.
If it was there, we knew jobs were being axed that day.
The boss would fire people behind closed doors, then sneak out a side exit so he never had to face the rest of us.
In the end, he packaged the company into an “emergency exit trust” and fled the country with $20 million, while we waited weeks just to find out if we’d even see a redundancy payout.
👀 Our Take
When leaders flaunt luxury while handing out redundancies, the signal is clear — status over people. It reduces a tough moment into theatre and turns livelihoods into collateral damage.
🧠 Could this have been avoided?
Absolutely. Redundancies should be handled with empathy and dignity, with clear communication — not pageantry.
Help us crown Australia’s Worst Boss
Your vote isn’t just about calling out bad leadership. For every vote cast, Compono will donate $1 to R U OK? Day (up to $5,000).
Together, we can shine a light on workplace culture — and start building better bosses.
Because bad bosses cost Australia big time — in morale, turnover, and productivity. At Compono, we use people science and AI to help businesses build better leaders and healthier teams.
For every verified vote, Compono donates $1 to R U OK? Day (up to $5,000). By voting, you’re not only crowning Australia’s Worst Boss — you’re also supporting a vital mental health charity.
The story with the most votes will be crowned Australia’s Worst Boss. We’ll announce the winner publicly, share the lessons learned, and shine a spotlight on how workplaces can do better.
