SIGNS YOUR BOSS IS MORE TOXIC THAN YOUR EX

Ok, tell me this. Have you ever sat in that “quick chat” that turned into a whole therapy session (except you’re the one paying for it 🙃)?

Why are we STILL dealing with bosses who are literally more toxic than our exes??

You know exactly what I mean:

• Those “quick chats” at 4:55pm on a Friday (because heaven forbid we enjoy our weekends)

• The magical way everything’s “urgent”… except your holiday requests

• That guilt-trippy “we’re like a family here” nonsense (spoiler: healthy families don’t exploit each other)

• And my personal favourite: when your Sunday scaries start showing up on Thursday because apparently one day of dread wasn’t enough 😅

Look, I’ve been there. Like, REALLY been there.

Remembering that time I had a boss who’d message “can we chat?” and then leave me on read FOR THREE HOURS? My therapist is still unpacking that one 🙃

But here’s the thing…

After years of shrinking myself, saying yes when I meant no (inherent people pleaser here, thanks mum), and hiding in office toilets (we’ve all been there), I finally learned something life-changing:

Setting boundaries isn’t just about protecting your time – it’s about reclaiming your worth.

Every time you set a boundary, you’re telling yourself and others that your wellbeing matters. That YOU matter. And yes, it’s scary as hell at first. Your heart might race, your palms might sweat, but that’s okay. Being brave doesn’t mean not being scared – it means doing it anyway.

→ Here are the exact scripts that helped me find my voice:

When they hit you with: “Quick chat at 4:55pm?”

Say this: “I have a hard stop at 5. Would you like to schedule this for first thing tomorrow so we can give it proper attention?”

When everything’s “urgent”:

Try: “I’m currently working on [previous urgent task they gave you]. Which should I prioritize?”

When they’re all “we’re like family”:

Hit them with: “I value professional boundaries – they help me deliver my best work.”

For those weekend emails:

Set up this auto-reply: “I’ll be back during business hours. For genuine emergencies, please contact [their boss’s email]”

Here’s the truth: The first time you use these, your heart might feel like it’s going to burst out of your chest. But each time you stand up for yourself, it gets a little easier. And that feeling of taking back control? Absolutely priceless.

Want more scripts that actually work? Our FREE Toxic Workplace Survival Guide has a whole section on boundary-setting that won’t get you fired (tested by yours truly 😉).