Report: Mr. Burns TV's worst boss?

(Source: Big Cartoon Database)

C. Montgomery Burns of Fox's The Simpsons and Cosmo Spacely of Hanna-Barbera's The Jetsons are two of television's worst bosses.

Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas published its annual list of television's worst employers this past Monday. The cadaverous Mr. Burns made the list for attempting to block the sun, thereby stimulating business for his nuclear plant.

"A recent poll we conducted found that poor leadership is the biggest reason for low employee morale," said CEO John A. Challenger in the report.

Also making the worst-boss-on-TV grade are Gordon Ramsey, the obscenity-spewing chef on Fox's Hell's Kitchen; Michael Scott, the incompetent manager on NBC's The Office; President Charles Logan, Jack Bauer's boss on 24; brothel owner Al Swearengen on HBO's Deadwood; Dr. Bob Kelso, the hospital chief of staff on NBC's Scrubs; and the obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk, of USA Network's Monk.

While these horror bosses (mostly) confine their activities to the screen, their behavior can offer real-life lessons for employees stuck with genuinely bad bosses, says the firm.

The firm advises not responding in kind to a bosses' negativity. The report encouraged employees to find the bosses' preferred method of communication, and update them about events.

Seeking another position should be a last resort.

"Accept that it is you who will have to change," the report counsels, saying employees cannot change a bad boss.

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