9News: Why Australia's Worst Boss Campaign Sparks Better Workplaces

Bad bosses aren't just workplace nightmares — they're a national crisis costing Australia billions in lost productivity, staff turnover, and mental health impacts. That's why we launched Australia's Worst Boss campaign, turning toxic leadership stories into catalysts for meaningful change.

The Real Cost of Toxic Leadership

When corporate psychologist and Compono CEO Rudy Crous appeared on Channel 9 this week, he didn't mince words about Australia's leadership problem:

"I think we've all known stories about ...bad bosses, have worked with bad bosses or perhaps even have been bad bosses, and Compono has launched Australia's Worst Boss because we believe that to inspire the best, we have to expose the worst."

The statistics back up what we're seeing in workplaces across the country. Poor leadership drives up stress-related sick leave, decimates team morale, and sends talented people straight out the door. But here's the thing — most toxic bosses don't even realise they're the problem.

Exposing the Worst to Inspire the Best

The Australia's Worst Boss campaign isn't about name-and-shame tactics or workplace revenge. It's about creating a mirror for leadership behaviours that desperately need to change. When we shine a spotlight on the worst examples of management, we're actually holding up a roadmap for what good leadership looks like.

Every story shared — from the CEO who threw phones at staff during meetings to the manager who maintained secret families in different states — becomes a teaching moment. These aren't just workplace horror stories; they're case studies in what happens when leadership goes wrong.

How the Campaign Works

The mechanics are simple: share your most outrageous boss story anonymously at worstboss.com.au, and you could walk away with prizes that acknowledge your workplace trauma while setting you up for career success.

What's up for grabs:

• $5,000 holiday voucher — time to recover from workplace stress, no approval needed
• Three coaching sessions with a corporate psychologist — professional guidance on navigating toxic workplaces or developing your own leadership skills
• A spotlight moment in our campaign — helping your story inspire better workplaces

Australia votes for the worst boss story, with winners announced in October. Every vote also triggers a $1 donation to R U OK? Day, reinforcing our commitment to workplace mental health.

Beyond the Laughs: Building Better Leaders

While the campaign has its humorous moments — Japanese bamboo nap curtains, anyone? — the underlying mission is deadly serious. We're collecting data on toxic leadership patterns to better understand what drives poor management behaviour and how to prevent it.

Join the Movement

Ready to turn your workplace horror story into a force for change? Visit worstboss.com.au and share your experience. Your story could be the one that helps create better workplaces for everyone.

Because when we expose the worst, we inspire the best. And Australia's workplaces deserve nothing less.

Who is Australia's Worst Boss? 👀

Share your story and help build better workplaces:
Visit worstboss.com.au and be part of the movement toward better leadership across Australia.