Aside from low wages and insufficient growth opportunities, one of the most influential reasons employees decide to leave their jobs is a bad boss, at least according to a 2021 Pew Research Center study on resignations. From the phrases bad bosses say too often to the toxic work cultures they cultivate, it’s disturbingly common for employees to experience across industries.

Patterns of ineffective leadership and unwieldy power dynamics are common. Still, as employees learn to better prioritize their well-being, work-life balance, and boundaries in the office, expectations will surely begin to change, especially as Younger generations like Generation Z are entering the workforce. and demand a change.

Here are 11 phrases bad bosses say too often:

1. ‘We’ve never done it like this’

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Great leaders navigate through change while supporting their employees rather than forcing them to conform to rigid regulations and expectations that don’t accommodate their happiness, satisfaction, or productivity. Research on “social change” in the workplace from the Stanford Social Innovation Review describes three types of successful bosses who open themselves to the benefits of change at work: shakers, innovators, and orchestrators.

While shakers and orchestrators focus on sharing team ideas, solving problems, and making new plans a reality, innovators link creativity with practicality across their teams. When a terrible boss closes himself off to new innovative ideas, not only does he not support his employees, he closes himself off to new successes, ideas, and a more satisfying work culture.

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2. ‘Just figure it out’

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Collaboration at work is essential for a healthy work culture. Leaders must develop clear expectations and regulations that support their teams and give peace of mind to workers—regardless of the task or complexity of a project.

Your workplace may be a space for individual productivity and success, but that doesn’t mean leadership isn’t still responsible for supporting their teams.

3. ‘I’m not paying you to think’

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Leaving your creativity, connection, and humanity at the door when you arrive at work harms not only your productivity but also your mental health and your identity in the office.

Employees are not hired to follow their bosses’ orders, at least not in a healthy work culture, so when a boss urges employees to let go of their uniqueness and complex thinking, they silently expect you to blindly follow. his manipulative orders. and wrong regulations.

According to human resources expert Liz RyanBuilding trust at work starts with meeting and accepting employees where they are, rather than forcing sacrifice before commitment.

4. ‘Here we are a family’

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While many turn to the concept of family to feel security, connection, or camaraderie at work, the general toxicity and Manipulation that a “family dynamic” can cause in the workplace it does far more harm than good. From office husbands to vested managers, the dangers of a family culture often manifest in unhealthy, competitive and manipulative ways.

A bad boss who exerts this type of dynamic on his teams often longs to overindulge in their personal lives, hoping to work longer hours or sacrifice their well-being for productivity in the name of the community.

RELATED: Toxic Boss Responds to Single Mom Yelling Over Sick Child by Saying She Needs to Put Work First

5. ‘It’s best to keep salary information private’

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Younger generations of workers are innovating new government regulations that protect employees’ right to pay transparency in the workplace. While studies like that of “Salary transparency: why it is important to be reflective and strategic” argue that these regulations can promote managerial trust and reduce employee turnover, they also have the potential to generate confusion and concern.

Even with the occasional negative outcome, bosses don’t have the power to restrict your access to salary transparency and compensation information at your company.

You deserve to advocate for fair compensation, even if that means urging HR to submit compensation reports or asking your coworkers about their salary information. Especially when it is often used as a manipulation tactic, don’t let a lousy boss prevent you from accessing your right-to-understand information.

6. “I don’t feel good, but I’ll get through it”

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Employment studies from the Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology They argue that “presenteeism,” the act of attending work while sick, takes two main forms: voluntary and involuntary presenteeism. When workers voluntarily show up to work sick, like a boss, they show higher levels of work engagement, while involuntary workers tend to exhibit the opposite pattern.

While a boss who frequently comes to work sick of his own volition may be more productive, that same pattern cannot be used to explain to an employee on his team who is forced to decline sick leave. You are entitled to your sick leave, PTO, and vacation time, even when you have a fragile and authoritarian boss.

RELATED: Boss tells worker he will no longer ‘accept’ doctor’s notes: ‘If you can go to the doctor, you can come to work’

7. ‘You’re being too sensitive’

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Experts, such as the authors of “Rehumanize the workplace: prepare your organization for the future while restoring hope” They argue that our modern world, plagued by insecurity and chaos, has urged individuals and employees to operate from a place of self-preservation and scarcity, forcing them to let go of their humanity.

While the separation of identity between work and personal life can be healthy for balance, this general disconnect dehumanizes work cultures and affects everyone’s well-being. Bringing your sensitivity, personality, and compassion to work is essential, especially when interacting with others and connecting across industries and roles.

Gallup Workplace Studies Argue that employees want to be recognized and “known” for what makes them unique: you deserve to stand up for yourself, in the truest sense of your identity in the workplace, without feeling burdened by the misguided view of humanity. a bad boss

8. ‘We need to do more with less’

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Many ineffective leaders who do not advocate for the needs and safety of their team will offload their responsibilities and burdens onto their employees. This is one of those phrases that bad bosses say very often: “Do more with less,” when in reality they are not advocating for healthy supportreasonable workloads and schedules that make sense for your teams.

Bad bosses expect their employees to “pick up the slack,” work longer hours, and sacrifice their personal time to improve the company, when they should be better at steering the ship.

9. ‘It seems like your problem’

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TO study from Cambridge University Press argues that a manager’s ability to successfully disengage from work during non-work hours can help promote healthier psychological well-being and work-life balance in their teams. However, a distant boss at work only hurts overall morale.

If your boss floods your inbox with emails, doesn’t support your struggles, and leaves you isolated when your workload gets heavy, you’re disconnected from your true leadership role. If you’re struggling at work, it’s a problem your boss should address alongside you, not compete with you.

10. ‘I’m here working for free while you’re on vacation’

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big bosses prioritize your team’s work-life balance Above all, genuinely understand that employees cannot give their best if they are not given the freedom to enjoy their personal time. While it is true that these bosses are few and far between, a study from the Leadership & Organization Development Journal maintains that they will never exert more power than “bad” bosses to influence their employees.

While they often disguise themselves with a phrase like this to promote misguided productivity in their team, a “bad boss” could easily be sacrificing their own identity, well-being, and health to succeed in their role. That doesn’t mean you have to do the same.

Employees who set boundaries and refuse to accept pressure like this condescending phrase will perform better and protect their sanity in the long run.

11. ‘That’s just part of the job’

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If a boss constantly talks about work-life balance, but hasn’t touched your vacation request in months, chances are they don’t practice what they preach. The same goes for workloads and job descriptions: if they’re vague, you’re probably being taken advantage of.

The less written responsibilities and clear regulations they have to manage you, the more they can expect from you. As Harvard Business Review research on “task switching” For first responders it exemplifies, even for corporate offices, switching between teams and responsibilities is not healthy for anyone.

If you’re too stressed, worried about taking over from other people, or have a workload that’s too big, confusing, or overwhelming to handle alone, don’t do it. let your manager fool you to think it’s something you signed up for. A great boss’s top priority should be working; If that means supporting employees and helping manage their team’s stress, that’s what they should focus on.

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Zayda Slabbekoorn is a news and entertainment writer at YourTango, focusing on health and wellness, social policy and human interest stories.