How to deal with the bully boss

Do you have a boss who makes your life miserable? Well if misery loves company, take comfort. A study by the Employment Law Alliance found that almost half of all employees have been targeted by a bully boss. The study found that 81 percent of bullies are managers, 50 percent of bullies are women, and 84 percent of targets are women. CIO.com consulted experts on what to do, and they offered some advice.

Brian Stern, president of Shaker Consulting Group, a management consulting firm in Cleveland, suggests tactfully talking to the tyrant by using diplomacy. "Don't take an accusatory tone," he says. "Instead, put the burden on yourself. Begin by outlining the problem and suggest ways you and your boss can work together."

Another option: Just lay low and stay out of the line of fire as much as you can. Robert Mueller, a labor attorney and author of "Bullying Bosses: A Survivor's Guide" (bullyingbosses.com), says you don't have to take a bully boss's constant abuse. Mueller contends that all victims of workplace bullying can become what he calls "workplace warriors" and use self-defense strategies that can restore power, dignity and options to the bullied employee.

For details on fighting back:
- see this CIO.com article