What do you do when your Boss is Bipolar?

Question

How do you maintain a good work environment when your Boss has mood swings all during the course of the day? Should an employee make a confrontation?

Answer 1

Its always best to avoid a confrontation with a supervisor. The best way to counter this is to maintain your own positive attitude. Don't let his mysery ruin your day.

Answer 2

It may be worth talking to his or her supervisor, or human resources, but know that doing so may put your own job at risk. While such things should be held in confidence, they aren't always and your boss might get pissed.

If you do, take an "I'm really concerned for this person" approach and not from a "I feel so abused" angle. You can discuss how this impacts the entire office.

If you are on friendly terms with your boss, you could try a direct approach, coming from a "what's wrong because I notice sometimes you're down," angle. Showing some concern may get them to open up, and then you can gently include how their moods are impacting other people. If you do this, try to pick an up time or maybe go to lunch or after work over drinks. Approaching someone with potential criticism or even concern when they are on the warpath is suicide.

Last option, find a new job, but explain why you're leaving on the way out, so maybe someone will fix what is surely hurting the company.

Answer 3

Wow! I had the boss lady from hell for years. Our company got bought out by a larger company and they had a way of reporting anonymously actions by a manager that caused harm to others. I was not the person that did the reporting, but everyone was interviewed when they came to investigate.

The boss lady from hell is no longer my boss. Unf0ortunately she still works for the company and chose here own replacement. But at least the bi-polar stuff can not have an effect on me or the others in my group.

From a personal viewpoint there is not much you can do. Saying anything to your boss directly usually makes it worse.

See if you company has a way to report things like this.

Answer 4

You should not confront your boss, unless you have a personal close relationship with them. But just don't take too many things personally, because I am sure that it is not directed personally to you, even tho it may seem like it is...as long as you do your job, and your boss is not constantly on your case about you not doing your job correctly...just try to go with the flow...I know that is much easier said than done sometimes. Do you know if you boss is on meds or not? If not then it definitely will be harder to deal with your boss. Good Luck...
~PEACE~

Answer 5

Just be sure to maintain you work level at 100% and don't allow yourself to be intimated by the mood swings. Remember be the best that you can be. Confrontation a big NO on that, that will just make the situation worse.

Answer 6

Never. It is not your responsibility to maintain a good work environment. However, it is your responsibility to control yourself and maintain a pleasant, respectful attitude regardless of how anyone else acts. Bipolar or not, your boss is still THE BOSS and what he/she says you have to follow unless it is illegal or poses a safety hazard. "Obey now, grieve later principle." Bosses come and go and you don't want to taint your work record with a disciplinary action because you caused a disruption to the work site. You must be especially careful of what you say and how you act if you are in a public contact job. Do what you are assigned, be pleasant, go home and enjoy yourself after work. Learn as much as you can about everything that you are exposed to on your job. Good luck.

Answer 7

I would wonder if it is a mental problem or crack addiction. Bipolar disorders are usually days or weeks to see the effect of the mood changes. Cocaine is hours between the peak of the high and the depth of the withdrawal, but moments to the peak again.
You likely should not confront them, but likely should look for a better job.
On the other hand it might just be stress.

Answer 8

Take care of yourself first and remind yourself that the environment around you is out of your control and focus on your responsibilities above all else.
If you find that this supervisor is affecting your ability to perform, then I would bring it to the attention of the person directly above your supervisor. As long as you are not malicious, they should respect your privacy and intentions to do a better job if the issue is somehow addressed.
If the situation is really taxing on you, it may be time to consider a new position for yourself.
also, read your employee handbook. It may tell you outright the recourse to take. I doubt it says you are required to take abuse!

Answer 9

I have been through this.

The most important thing is that you do not let their mood swings affect you. Always respond and act in an even manner and tone.

What good is a confrontation going to do? If they haven't managed to get help by now, they aren't going to. Your assessment of the situation isn't going to be any sort of revelation to them. They don't think they have a problem ... it's everyone else.

Answer 10

Are you a doctor? Mood swings do not meet all of the diagnosis criteria for someone who is Bi polar. Watch what you say or you could lose your job. That is a huge assumption on your part. And even if she is, calling her out on it is never really a good idea. People who are Bi Polar... often take years of treatment to even get them to admit to THEMSELVES that their is anything at all wrong with them to begin with, even while voluntarily attending therapy.

You don't confront people about things that are none of your business... Being bitchy and moody and changing your mind at work, usually comes from the fact that as a boss... you also usually have a boss dictating to you what to do with your employees.

If it be insurance companies, Uncle Sam, your accountant, your spouse, vendors, sh*itty customers, whoever... Believe me, sh*it runs downhill and you're just probably getting the fall out of someone else you are not seeing, scrambling your bosses brain.

Drones and worker bee's are so un original.... Everything has to be chalked up to a mental illness these days. How about just good old fashioned stress and deadlines? Ya think?


It's good to be a Queen Bee... I don't have to deal with knuckle heads anymore!

Answer 11

No,You,ll end up on their bad side wether they pretend to take it o.k.{You Confrontain them}And they will in the futore look for a reason to can your butt!Most bipolar poeple do not like you bringing it to their attention even if they know they are,my advise to you,is in one ear and out the other,just don,t pay no never mind to their crazy mood swings,and if that don,t work,go over their head and report them to their Boss!Good Luck,Hollywood!