What is the ethics of going over your incompetent bosses head?

On occasion I have worked for some terrible bosses who make some incredible decisions that hurt morale, and the companies efficiency and bottom line.

In many cases their boss is so busy that they are not able to understand how incompetent my boss is.

What is the most legal and ethical way to handle an incompetent boss? Should I try to make contact with his supervisor? Have you ever gone successfully over the head of a bad boss?

Ethically almost all offices have an open door policy you can talk to whomever you want...

realistically you should first talk to your boss explain the situation and see if you can come up with a compromise that satisfy both... if not let them know you aren't happy with that solution, let them think about it a day or more.. then talk to their boss.. explain that you have already talked to your immediate supervisor and wanted to bring this to their attention.... let them handle it from there...


if you skip your immediate boss without talking to them first no IMMEDIATE reprisals will happen.. that would be illegal...

HOWEVER it is a VERY career limiting move... you would probably not be promotable in that department every again.. and if the boss is popular in the company in that company.. in fields where people job hop a lot (IT) i have seen it cost people jobs at more then one company...

if this seems unfair to you.. imagine how you would like being griped out by YOUR boss for something that one of your workers never discussed with you...

Probably the best way to deal with an incompetent boss is to try to get out of there, either to another company or a different part of the one you're in (unless of course you supervise the incompetent, in which case firing is the way to go).

There isn't likely to be a legal problem with going above your boss but to do it you'd really have to make sure you're right, you would probably have to demonstrate that a major screw up was caused by your boss. If it comes down to your word against your bosses it'll be your boss that wins so you need something better than that.

Keep in mind that employees are, more often than not, easily replaceable. People will cut the living out from under one another for the most trivial reasons. If they perceive you, right or wrong, as a malcontent, then you are finished.

Sorry to be glum, but in all liklihood that incompetent boss has a lot more leverage on the situation than you do.

This doesn't necessarily mean that you should give up. But it does mean that you should have a realistic view of the possible punishment you might receive.

Before you do, you'd better have facts and hard evidence lined up to support your allegations, and not just elevate a personality dispute. The burden will be on you to prove your case.

Tough job market; and most companies perfer to hold bosses to account not their critics.