On television, late night host Jimmy Fallon has cultivated a friendly, charming personality among guests and audiences. However, according to an investigation by Rolling Stone published Thursday, behind closed doors, Fallon created a toxic work environment for the staff at “The Tonight Show.” According to interviews with two current and 14 former unnamed employees, Fallon’s unpredictable behavior made the show a toxic workplace. The anonymous employees described Fallon as a mercurial, moody boss who would belittle and berate staff with passive-aggressive comments and outbursts on “bad Jimmy days.” Eight former staffers alleged that his behavior at work often seemed linked to hangovers from the night before.
One former employee told Rolling Stone, “It was like, if Jimmy is in a bad mood, everyone’s day is messed up. People wouldn’t joke around in the office, and they wouldn’t stand around and talk to each other. It was very much like, focus on your work because Jimmy’s in a bad mood, and if he sees that, he might explode.” After the exposé was published, Fallon apologized to the staff in an all-hands meeting. Two people on the Zoom call reported that he said, “Sorry if I embarrassed you and your family and friends… I feel so bad I can’t even tell you.” Whether you have a positive or negative opinion of Fallon after reading the report, it’s clear that many can relate to the fears and frustrations expressed by the anonymous employees.
Dealing with an unpredictable boss who can reward or punish you depending on their mood is the worst kind of bad boss to have. Mary Abbajay, president of the leadership development consultancy Careerstone Group and author of “Managing Up: How To Move Up, Win at Work, and Succeed With Any Type of Boss,” explains that having a boss who acts erratically creates a constant state of high alert and impacts your fight-or-flight response. In some ways, having mixed feelings about your boss can be worse than having a consistently unpleasant boss.
Lauren Appio, a psychologist, executive coach, and organizational consultant, specializing in mental health at work, adds that when your boss is unpredictable, it puts you on edge as you try to anticipate their mood and behavior. Research supports the idea that inconsistent bosses are unsettling. Allan Lee, an organizational behavior researcher, found that employees who felt conflicted and ambivalent about their managers had the lowest job performance. Feeling conflicted made both good and bad relationships with managers worse.
“As humans, we tend to like consistency and predictability in our environment. This is argued to be a fundamental motive for people. Ambivalence or mixed feelings create cognitive dissonance, and this is very stressful, especially when it is about something important like a leader-manager relationship,” Lee told HuffPost.
When leadership at the top is chaotic and erratic, it’s essential for your direct manager to provide certainty and support. However, according to the Rolling Stone report, the ever-changing showrunners who reported to Fallon did not offer support to the staff. If middle managers act as a buffer by absorbing the grumpiness of a boss, they can prevent that toxicity from trickling down to employees. Unfortunately, this was not the case on “The Tonight Show.”
If you find yourself in a situation with an unpredictable boss, there are strategies to survive and protect yourself until you can find a different job. Look for patterns in their behavior to anticipate their “bad days.” This kind of warning system can help mentally prepare for their toxic behavior. If you feel comfortable, have a conversation with your boss about how you can best communicate during high-stress times. If this is not an option, focus on what you can control, such as consolidating your power and growing your network within and outside the organization. Be cautious about going to HR, as they may not always be supportive. Set boundaries between work and home life to maintain your sanity. Knowing when you’ll quit can help you mentally detach from the toxicity. Remember, no job is worth sacrificing your health and well-being for.
Ultimately, dealing with an unpredictable boss can be challenging, but by implementing these strategies, you can navigate the situation until you’re able to find a healthier work environment.
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