@knb+1b93qQxi Similar story about a middle manager who had a reputation as a condescending bully, especially to other women. She ran a huge project, and had contractors assigned to help her who happened to be female.
They were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Boss was really demanding that their work be excellent, but also felt threatened if they got kudos from partners on a job well done. The first contractor refused to renew because of it, then her replacement started to receive the same treatment.
A few days before her maternity leave, bully boss went nuts upon discovering that the 2nd contractor had a brief vacation planned for a month or so into bully boss's leave. (This had already been approved by this contractor's interim manager.)
The contractor was so done, she packed up a few personal items and quit on her way to lunch, never to return. The interim manager apparently called her to try to smooth things over, but bully boss had already begun her leave by then, so no immediate consequences for her.
A third contractor was hired who had a really strong track record at WF already. She only agreed to take the job if bully boss was NOT her direct manager, when she returned from leave. No surprise, when bully boss did return Wells tried to renege on that agreement, so contractor #3 threatened to quit on the spot -- and management backed down.
Want to guess what happened to bully boss? They got her a coach, and she's still at WF. Slightly improved version of her old self, but still quite difficult to work with/for. Especially if you are female.
Imagine if the casualties left in her wake had received 50% the support that this one bully boss did?