I once worked for awhile at a bar, and was fired for having a party one night around midnight and inviting some friends who also were bar patrons.  That lady was also otherwise pretty horrible.

The last boss I worked for hired me and I was supposed to have a supervisor and two people working under me.  When I arrived there were no other people.  I also found their instructions totally incomplete and lacking in enough detail to get the job done.  I also found problems with their software that was causing incorrect data.  I was in charge of their state reporting.  I asked for help and asked for help and asked for help, and did all I could.  I kept asking for a review so I could address my issues.  I was so happy when that finally came about, but was met by security and escorted off the property with them claiming I was totally incompetent in every area.  I just looked at them and said, oh, so that's the way you are going to play this?  And collected my unemployment because I had done nothing wrong.  THAT was a horrible boss.

I am a horrible boss.  I employ people during a time of high unemployment.  Therefore.....

1. I insist employees come to work on time. 
2. I insist employees not leave early.
3. I insist employees leave the drama AT HOME!
4.  Don't ask me for a raise for your so-so work.
5.  I don't buy the sudden "Im sick, I can't come in today" excuse. 
6.  I don't tolerate you using company time on your cell phone, texting, or Facebooking.
7.  Bringing your bratty kids to work is NOT cute.  Leave them home.  I am not impressed.  (I have 4 and I don't bring them to the company.)
8.  Don't ask for an advance on your salary.  I pay when you have earned the money.
9.  I will treat you fair, but don't expect special favors.
10.  I am not a charity, I am a business with a goal of making money.  Keep that in mind in everything you do while you are at work. 
11.  I will reward superior work with salary increases and bonuses, but I will fire you for bad, or even so-so performance.
12.  I don't feel I owe you a job.
13.  I don't do "business casual."  Put on nice, neat clothes to work. 
14.  If you have to cry, go outside.
15.  Grooming counts.  Your nasty fingernails turns off customers.

I agree with the points you made doc. Especially the nasty fingernails part.  That's not a horrible boss to expect people to do what you pay them for.

If we don't have access to phones I can see dtsweet's point about family emergencies and also about attire. That's a nice boss to consider that not everyone can afford clothes.  It all depends on what job you're in.

I'd like to think I wasn't a horrible boss. I did have things that drove me crazy. I had an employee that asked the same questions repeatedly. Ugh made me so angry. Then, she would have her coat on and log off her computer and wait for the clock to strike 5. That didn't work with me and maybe she thought I was a horrible boss 

What a wonderful thing you did gabby. What did she say?

Thanks Froggy and Lips.

She was very thankful. 

Shed a few tears. (Doc would not approve)
Gave me a hug. (Again, Doc would not approve)
Posted it on her facebook account, during work. (Yikes, Doc)

I was happy for her and happy I could do something nice.  Some years finances let me do things and some years not so much.... I'm thinking there is someone who may be lurking and think that I was tooting my own horn.  Oh well.... I think it's perfectly fine to share the joy as well as hardships.

at cancel that comment.

I did have a manager once who must have had very low self esteem.  It was at a clinic where she wore high heels everyday....whatever.

Everything was, Step on MY scale, this is MY lab manager, I'll take you to MY x-ray room.  I could either let it annoy the crap outta me or laugh.  I did both.

I hear he's an ogre