Working America My Bad Boss Contest Highlights Real Tales of "Horrible Bosses"

WASHINGTON, June 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Have a Horrible Boss? Work for a Jerk? Once again there will be a way for workers to get some reward and recognition for the times they've endured the relentless bully, brought in an overnight bag to burn the midnight oil or purchased their own first aid kit because the boss was too cheap to spring for one.

Working America officially launches its My Bad Boss contest today, Wednesday, June 29th, though the web site has been receiving visitors for a few days. Submissions can be made through July 20th and a winner will be announced Aug. 2. Workers can blow off some steam by submitting their stories online. Visitors to the website can vote on the Best (or Worst!) Tales from the office and shop floor and reward the most abused workers with what many of them need most: a vacation. 

The contest comes just in time for the comedy romp "Horrible Bosses" starring Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, and Jamie Foxx, among others, opening nationally July 8. The story revolves around three friends, their awful bosses, a zany plot against them and the disastrous results. Unlike the movie, however, we recommend sane workplace protections and good jobs to counter the crazy.

Previous submission to the site include a worker whose boss had her making pizza between contractions; another whose boss forbade employees from calling health authorities as workers stood in sewage while making food.

At a time when the economic crisis and unemployment continue to plague the country, those lucky enough to have jobs still face astonishing mistreatment at the workplace. A recent survey found 50 percent of workers are unhappy with their jobs.

"We have heard the stories, but we are stunned by the extent of the problem out there," said Karen Nussbaum, executive director of Working America. "Some stories are funny – at least to the reader – but many more are painful, even tragic. They all drive home the point that workers are vulnerable, and without workplace protections have virtually no rights on the job."

Starting July 6, the first two semifinalists will be announced. More semifinalists will be announced on July 13 and July 20, respectively. Final voting for the winner is July 20-27; the winner will be announced Aug. 2.

The Grand Prize is a much deserved getaway: a seven-night stay in a vacation condominium and $1,000 which may be used toward airfare or other travel expenses.

This is Working America's fourth My Bad Boss contest. Previous contests attracted tens of thousands of votes and millions of pageviews.

Working America is the fastest-growing organization for working people in the country with 3 million members who fight for good jobs and a just economy. Visit www.workingamerica.org.

SOURCE Working America