Handling a Sticky Situation With Your Boss

If you're more excited that your boss is out sick with the flu than you are about your new raise, you're in good company. In workplaces throughout the country, difficult bosses are ruining morale and making life just downright unpleasant. Whether they refuse to give you time off or they expect you to be their mother, bad bosses can put you in an awkward position. You need an escape plan when you find yourself in these sticky situations.

Communication is key, according to Gini Graham Scott, Ph.D., author of "A Survival Guide for Working with Bad Bosses: Dealing with Bullies, Idiots, Back-Stabbers, and Other Managers from Hell." A direct approach will save time and anxiety for both you and your boss. You can't resolve anything if you keep your concerns to yourself. Believe it or not, your boss might not realize his demands are making you miserable. Just letting him know how you feel could solve your problems. Here are eight (unfortunately) common workplace situations that bosses often put employees in and advice on how you should handle them: