History Main / MeanBoss

Compare DrJerk, DaChief, and DaEditor, three other tropes with frequent crossover. For the DrillSergeantNasty, it's an unavoidable part of the job. Not to be confused with a BadBoss, who isn't just a {{Jerkass}} to his co-workers, but so evil that he actually maims or kills them, though quite a few are both. Related to the PointyHairedBoss (except for their respective competence levels). Such bosses may feature in a negative JobSong.

* In ''Film/CashOnDemand'', bank manager Harry Fordyce is a cold, officious man who has previously threatened his head clerk, Pearson, with dismissal for a misdemeanour, despite the fact that this would end Pearson's career. In his EstablishingCharacterMoment, he tells elderly secretary Miss Pringle to take the Christmas cards of her desk, as the bank is a place of business and not a place for her to flaunt her popularity.

* In ''VideoGame/PotionPermit'', Nova's mistreatment of her assistant Hannah is what's causing the latter's insomnia.

* Studio head Alfie Alperin in ''Film/{{Sunset}}'' is a sadist who will inflict physical punishment on employees who have failed him.

** [[spoiler:The late Meleanor Draconia]] had a horrible temper and was quick to violence against her men with her immense powers. [[spoiler:Lilia, one of her generals]] was especially exasperated with her for this.

* ''MeanBoss/NotAlwaysWorking''

* Benson from ''WesternAnimation/RegularShow''. Though to be fair, Benson just has to deal with [[TheSlacker slackers]] like Mordecai and Rigby (Muscle Man sometimes gets on his nerves as well). He's actually quite reasonable with Pops and Skips. But from the point of view of the ''actual protagonists'', Benson is a prick who takes away anything that gives the two the slightest joy (in any given episode) and then threatens to fire them.
** Benson's own boss, Mr. Maellard, is definitely this, being far meaner to him than Benson is to Mordecai and Rigby.

* ''WesternAnimation/Cars1'': As a rookie, Lightning [=McQueen=] repeatedly mistreated and insulted his original pit crew (causing them to quit on him), fired three crew chiefs, and forced Mack to drive for days without rest.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'': Gilbert Huph explicitly makes it his company's #1 rule to ''deny'' as much insurance as possible, which of course contradicts the actions of former superhero Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible. When he calls him into his office to chastise Bob for his frequent authorizations, he goes as far as to threaten to fire him if he goes outside to try and stop a nearby mugging, then rubs it in his face. Thankfully, LaserGuidedKarma kicks in an instant later, unfortunately at the cost of Bob's job. A FreezeFrameBonus shortly before this shows he began charging employees for their own office supplies, parking, and ''electricity usage'' [[TheScrooge to cut costs]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'': Gilbert Huph explicitly makes it his company's mission to ''deny'' people their insurance, which of course doesn't sit well with former superhero Bob Parr. He even threatens to fire Bob if the latter goes to try and stop a mugging, then rubs it in his face. Thankfully, LaserGuidedKarma kicks in an instant later. Unfortunately, it comes at the cost of Bob's job. A FreezeFrameBonus shortly before this shows he began making employees pay for their own office supplies, parking, and ''electricity usage'' [[TheScrooge to cut costs]].

* In ''Film/{{The Nutty Professor|1996}}'' (second version), [[DeanBitterman Dean Richmond]] is a nasty type who fires Klump once in each film, clearly looking for an excuse to get rid of him, and when Klump has his job, Richmund rarely hides his contempt for him and even [[YouAreFat makes fun of his weight]]. (He does [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold redeem himself a little]] by siding with Klump to stop Buddy Love from stealing the patent for the fountain of youth formula in the climax of the second movie.)

** The boss in the Jeepers and Creepers cartoon "The Boss is Always Right" (also from Paramount) takes mean pills to keep him that way which hinders Creepers' attempts to ask for a raise.

* J.C. Dithers of ''ComicStrip/{{Blondie}}'' is quite possibly the Ur-example. (Of course, despite the fact that he fires Dagwood on a regular basis, he always hires him back for some strange reason.)