This Boss’ Obsession With Control Left His Team Sitting In An Empty Office Every Friday Afternoon
Written by admin on September 5, 2025
Bad bosses can come in all shapes and sizes — but sometimes it’s not explosive outbursts or obvious incompetence that do the damage.
This week on Office Hours With Sohan & Hameda, we sat with Amanda Bardas, an award winning publisher at Val Morgan Digital, and discussed the impact of horrible bosses on employees and their career growth.
In a post shared online, OP described feeling frustrated by a manager who consistently ignored the realities of the team’s work. The company had a perk which allowed staff to finish at 2pm on Fridays, but participation was left to the discretion of individual managers. OP’s was the only team globally that didn’t get to take part.
When they asked why their team had to miss out, the manager’s response was a blunt and final “My team operate 9-5.”
He publicly dismissed working from home as “millennial nonsense” and, during lockdowns, insisted the team continue coming into the office, claiming their roles were “essential,” even though the work — answering calls and emails — could easily have been done remotely.
The story raises broader questions about leadership and accountability.
Listen to our discussion here and don’t forget to clock in to the Office Hours With Sohan & Hameda podcast, with new episodes dropping every Tuesday.
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