What's the best employer you've ever had? The best boss? I KNOW there

[radwriter0555]

are great stories out there about boss's loyalty, generosity, compassion and caring far, far above and beyond the call of duty.

When my daughter was a wee baby, I wanted to make her 2nd year Xmas really, really special, since it was the first one that she would truly know about.

I was working for a small local city, making okay money, but the child care expenses were really strapping me. I was definitely hand to mouth and had no extra money to make Xmas for her.

I went to the head of accounting and asked if I could get a workplace loan or advance on my paycheck, and he just asked how much I needed and reached into his wallet and handed me $300, and just that I pay it back when I could. Which of course I did.

He went on to become manager of that City, highly recommended by me, of course, and continues to be a compassionate and fair man, who does a good job running that City.

[madrchsod]

1. i had a boss that loaned people money,

bailed them out of jail,gave the guys 100 dollars cash for working all week when it was 90+ degress all week( we worked in a steel forging shop-hell is cooler), loaned new people money if they needed some for vaction shutdown. thanksgiving and christmas he gave out about 75 dollars for turkey and a big smoked ham. he was always really nice to his employees and actually cared about us,hell every so often former employees would come back to say talk to him..really the best person i have ever worked for.

[Madrone]

2. One of my current bosses -

"Loaned" me the money for my super-nice laptop, and wouldn't take any money when I tried to pay him back.

Same boss also co-signed on my first ever brand new car - on 12/31.

[peace frog]

3. LOL, that's a tough act to follow

My "best" supervisor made herself very available when I had questions and trained me as thoroughly in the job as I've ever been by anyone. Smart lady, knew her stuff... once you got past her gruff exterior she was kindly and helpful. Sad thing is, this was 27 years ago... management just ain't what it used to be.

[Modem Butterfly]

4. I've had some really great bosses

Here's a nifty story about my boss:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1220218

I got a promotion at the start of the year, but my company is more demanding then ever- lots of twelve hour days, some weekends. My boss got me a bigger bonus and extra vacation time, which I'm using today for a mental health day.

[BuelahWitch]

5. I've had several good supervisors

If they're upfront and honest I can get along very well with them.

As for company, eBay was pretty good to work for until the call center bean-counter types took over. The first year I worked for them was really enjoyable.

[CornField]

6. I still keep in touch with my favorite boss

Not only did he completely trust me with running one of his newspapers, but he also continually reminded me that my home and family came first. More than once he drove down and took over night duties so that I could spend time with my husband and child.

He remains one of the most dependable people in my life.

[flygal]

7. A non-profit educational consulting firm

the head guy let people bring their dogs to work in the winter.

edit to add a linky http://www.bigpicture.org/aboutus/staff.htm very cool organization

[Ready4Change]

8. Best 2 weeks of my career.

I was "loaned" to another department to help them with a short assignment. My temp boss there showed me around the office so I knew where supplies could be found, set me up in an office, with a machine to program on, showed me the problem and then said "If you have any problems I'll be in my office, otherwise I'll get out of your way."

And that's exactly what he did. What followed was perhaps the mosst productive 2 weeks of my career. With no politics in the way of the problem, I cruised through it in half the alloted time, even adding some nice to have features to improve the end product.

It was painful to return to my micromanaging "real" boss, and I left the company shortly afterwards, mostly in hopes of finding better management.

[warrior1]

9. My very first boss

in the 30 plus years I've worked, no one can stand up to her integrity. The current boss I have...well I can't even begin to relate how bad our office is getting because of her inaction.

[livinginphotographs]

10. A boss of mine, at a previous office,

had a secretary whose son was killed by a stray bullet in a gang shooting. He paid out of his pocket for the entire funeral.

Most of the direct superiors I've had have been decent people, it's just their bosses who are usually the assholes.

[seabeyond]

11. i have had a lot of good bosses. the best for me, employer allowing

me to prove myself. that i dont need the supervision. that is the best job, to do job and be trusted and not interferred with

mutual respect

and i have had it often.

[Bouncy Ball]

12. The best boss I ever had is the one I have now.

It's awesome. He's incredibly liberal, he was a young man in the 60s, tells some of the best stories I've ever heard. As far as our job goes, philosophically we are on the same page all the way. He's been a great mentor.

And my husband has a good boss, though he isn't liberal. He treats him like a son, would hand him his shirt if he asked for it, and gives him flexible hours. As many overtime hours as he wants, which isn't always good for a workaholic like my husband. But he's a good boss.

[SixStrings]

13. Where to start?

I've worked in a few places in my time. I have been at this small company for almost 3 yrs now. When i started our sales were in the $15-20 million range per year. We are on course for a $60 million year. My company was started by a very smart englishman who came to Canada in the 50's, and recognized that large Industrial, telecom, utilities companies do not have time to source their materials and tools. He started an Industrial Distribution business, and having passed away, his son has taken control.

This is the nicest man I have ever met. As long as you are getting the work done, he does not care when you show up for work or when you leave. Let me say that again - I can come & go as I please. It's really amazing. You can bring your pet to work. He will loan money at the drop of a hat (he's even given money away - when one guy needed money to buy his wife's wedding dress, he just gave him the $$$). He overpays, and every Christmas he hands out ridiculous bonus cheques (5 figures sometimes).

There's probably people out there asking, "How can that work?". It not only works, but works well. Our sales are thru the roof and the future is only getting brighter. We have the most loyal, hardworking employees you could imagine. Geez, I wonder why?

I got really lucky.

[cmd]

14. My first principal was the best

I began teaching in 1965. Schools came courting at the doors of colleges looking for teachers. I didn't choose to work for the district that offered me the most money. I did choose the one with the most charismatic principal. When I needed something for my classroom, I only had to ask. My principal offered kind support to all the teachers. We thought the world of him. This respect for one another led to a happy work environment where everyone went out of their way to do their best. I salute you, Al Sardelli. You were the best!

[woodsprite]

15. My work is really a great place to work.

They went way above and beyond the call a couple of years ago when a couple (we have tons of couples working here) went to a conference in California. The wife was pregnant, but was in good health and her drs. said it was fine to travel. They were doing presentations at a conference when she started feeling sick. It turned out she had developed pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. It was touch and go and they gave her a 50/50 chance of survival unless the baby was delivered immediately.

She had an immediate c-section to deliver a 3-lb baby boy. The mom was in one hospital recovering and the baby was down the street at another hospital. There was another employee in town for another conference who was contacted by our Univ. and visited the couple.

Whenever someone from the school was in CA for a conference over the next month, they visited with the family. The Pres. contacted MBNA about using their plane to bring the family home, but the baby needed NICU care. He said the offer stood and when the baby was released, just let him know. They did, about 1 month later, Charlie Cawley of MBNA authorized a plane and our Nursing school came up with a nurse who was a neonatal specialist. The nurse brought everything they'd need to have a safe flight home including a heart monitor. The state of DE requires heart monitors on babys born before 34 weeks, CA didn't.

In my book, that qualifies as way above and beyond for employers nowadays.