‘Good Bosses’ Archives
Delivering Happiness book review: How Zappos gives bad bosses the boot
Delivering Happiness is further proof that the workplace doesn't have to be hostile and ruthless in order for companies to succeed. In his book, Tony Hsieh explains how his career evolved from starting an unsuccessful worm farm business as a child to investing in and managing Zappos, the online shoe retailer, as its revenues grew from nothing in [...]
Boss celebrates 81st birthday by giving company to employees
Bob Moore, the owner and CEO of Oregon-based Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods celebrated his 81st birthday by giving the company that he founded to his employees. Moore said, "It's been my dream all along to turn this company over to the employees, and to make that dream a reality on my birthday is just the icing on the cake. To me, this is the [...]
Boss’s Tip of the Week #3: Alternatives to Layoffs: How to keep top talent (and still cut costs)
Here is the third installment of the Boss’s Tip of the Week. This advice column for managers is brought to you by Bob Rosner and Allan Halcrow, co-authors of The Boss’s Survival Guide. The economy is precarious, budgets are tight, and companies are still dumping their most valuable assets faster than TV networks dump shows that struggle in [...]
More great bosses
After releasing the eBossWatch Best Bosses of 2009 list last month, we received feedback from many people praising their own managers. We’d like to honor and feature some of these great bosses. This is how their employees describe them: ■ Robert Stack is the founder, president and CEO of Community Options. Community Options is a national [...]
The eBossWatch Best Bosses of 2009
In a year that has been characterized by layoffs, unemployment, instability and tension in the workplace, eBossWatch is excited to announce the Best Bosses of 2009. The actions of these excellent managers serve as an inspiration to bosses and workers across the country. 1. Brian DeAngelis, store manager, PA Wine & Spirits Store, Whitehall, [...]
Boss donates kidney to save employee's life
As employees at a liquor store in Lehigh Valley, PA noticed their coworker Rob Fenstermaker slowly dying of polycystic kidney disease, a hereditary and fatal condition, their discussions about how to help led a few employees to get tested to determine if their kidneys were potentially compatible to Rob’s. Their boss, Brian DeAngelis, also [...]
The best boss in Boston
A manager at EMC Corporation was selected by Boston.com readers from about a dozen finalists as "Boston's Best Boss." Nancie Ruane, manager of the product data stewardship team at EMC, credits three aspects of her management style for contributing to her success: two-way communication, mutual respect, and setting clear expectations. Ruane has [...]
The boss who fired himself
Riley Drake, as CFO of a company that provides management services for trade shows, witnessed a budget crisis unfolding after a number of clients canceled orders last year. Drake saw the need to reduce overhead to keep the company within budget, and he believed that the company had little choice but to lay off one of its workers. In a bold [...]
Generous CEO gives $60 million gift to his employees
When Leonard Abess, the owner and CEO of Miami-based City National Bank, sold a controlling stake in the bank last fall, he gave $60 million as a gift to his 471 current and former employees. In explaining this huge gift, Abess said, "I just never thought that I was solely responsible for the success of the bank. I owned the bank. I enjoyed the [...]
Generous boss shares $500K bonus with employees
At a time when bonuses have become a relic of the past, the employees at Bollinger Insurance were surprised with a $1,000 check paid by company CEO, Jack Windolf. Last year, as part of the sale of 51% of the company, Windolf received $500,000 in deferred compensation, and he decided to share it with all 454 of his employees. Employees said [...]
