Toxic boss is one who resorts to bullying, mocking, taunting, demeaning and conspiring against you at workplace. This makes your workplace hostile and uncomfortable. She will use all tactics, strategies and methods to diminish, overshadow, and minimize your potential and contribution at the workplace. You ask, who would make a good example of that? Ask yourself and examine people you work with. There might be ones who side with the boss and those who are her friends. This makes situation much harder for you as now odds are stacks against you in overcoming a hostile environment where the power dynamics is distorted and imbalanced. This is the reason why your situation at workplace is diseased by the toxic boss and all her followers who participate in making work difficult for you.
What should you do?
First, talk to a friend about your work situation. Confide in him or her about the hostility you have been experiencing. This will help relieve some pain for you and you will gain some support
Say 'No', or that's not 'TRUE' when your boss accuses you of things that you didn't do in front of her boss if you have an opportunity to meet with those two. This strategy is effective as usually it will nip it in the bud. When you are alone with your boss, do not argue or get into a debate. She has the upper hand. Do disagree with her and challenge her in front of her boss. This will have an amazing effect on your psychology. After this experience, she will not mess with you again very much. If she does, she will be vastly weakened by your challenge.
Talk to your Union rep or steward if your workplace have one and if you belong to one. File a formal grievance on paper and a copy of this will go to the HR and your's Boss's Boss' Boss will hear all about the hostility that has been happening to you and now B3 is compelled to get involved and the cost for your Boss is much higher now to continue to harass, bully and act with hostility.
Go to an external governmental agency that is not biased against you who will conduct a fair investigation if you can find one and issue their impartial findings. Expect that they won't side with you, as usually people in these offices are politically connected with employers who have been accused of allowing bullying, harassment, and are slow to reach, bureaucratic and down right unhelpful. Be at least you have recorded a case against your bully BOSS and her friends. Mention all the names of people who have been hostile to you.
Sue your BOSS for her hostility! Why not? She is making your life hard, why not make her life hard? It's a two way street? You might win it who knows. She certainly will changer her behavior after suing her as now economics come in to the picture. She has far more to lose than you.
Any comment, suggestions or replies are welcome!
Stay strong and stay hostility-free in your Work.