But the biggest impact may be the spill-over bad bosses have on the morale and productivity of people who decide not to leave the company. Most workers just don't understand why their employer doesn't do something about their lousy manager. Consequently, they lose passion for their work and quickly slip into a mediocre performance level.

So What is the Answer?

If you are looking for a quick fix, forget about it. But the coaches at Delta Road agree that there are some short-term steps that both the worker and the employer can take to improve the situation:

For Employees:

· If interviewing with a prospective new boss, ask him/her for the names of people who have left their department or company in the last few months. The boss's handling of this request will tell a lot.)

· Present to the existing "bad boss" your proposal of work you want to do to help the company reach its goals and the tools you'll need to accomplish the work. Again, the boss's response will tell you what your future will be like working for that person.)

· Ask the existing "bad boss" for a weekly or monthly "progress meeting" to discuss activities, concerns, and the like. Most bad bosses avoid confrontation. If they don't agree to this request, the future isn't bright.

Workers must come to grips with the idea that most bad bosses won't change anytime soon. One possible solution is to wander the halls of your current company, assuming you like the company, and identify a different position with a new manager that you could transfer to.

For Companies:

· Ask the workforce what they would like to see change with the company culture and then make some of the changes.

· Don't say "employees are our most important asset," then treat them as expendable commodities.

· Quit the "gimmicky benefits" such as, bring the dog to work days, or squirt gun fights in the halls.

· Focus on employee retention. Employees hate it when they see good fellow workers leave.

· Invest in turning managers into mentors.

There is some encouraging news. Seventy-seven percent of employees surveyed said they would seriously consider staying in their current position if their bad boss made an honest attempt at changing.

Gordon Miller is a career coach, speaker, and the author of The Career Coach: Winning Strategies for Getting Ahead in Today's Job Market (Doubleday). He can be reached at gordonmiller@group56.com or http://www.group56.com .