Dealing With a Bad Boss? Kentucky Workers Are Googling It More Than You Think

If you’ve ever typed “how to deal with a bad boss” into Google during your lunch break, you’re not alone. A new study looking at workplace frustration across the country found Kentucky sits squarely in the middle when it comes to so-called “toxic leadership.” That might not sound alarming, but looking closer at the numbers suggests many workers are quietly dealing with difficult managers. Can you relate?

Kentucky Lands in the Middle of the Pack

A new analysis from Texas-based law firm The Barber Law Firm ranked states based on signs of workplace dissatisfaction, from employee turnover to how often workers search online for help dealing with a difficult boss.

Kentucky ranked 23rd nationally, with a Toxic Leadership Score of 65 out of 100, placing the state in the upper half of the rankings but far from the worst offenders.

In other words, things could be worse. But the data suggests they’re not exactly smooth sailing either.

When the Boss Is the Problem

Researchers tracked 153 Google search terms related to workplace frustration between May 2024 and April 2025. The list included phrases such as “how to deal with a bad boss” and the slightly more dramatic “how to sue my boss.”

Kentucky workers searched those types of phrases 2.8 times per 1,000 employees, a relatively high rate compared with many other states.

That doesn’t necessarily mean every workplace is miserable. It does suggest, however, that when problems arise, many employees look for advice online before taking any formal steps.

Sometimes it’s easier to ask Google than to knock on HR’s door.

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Workers May Be Voting With Their Feet

Another number in the study hints at a possible reason why those searches matter.

Kentucky recorded a 4.2% employee churn rate, meaning workers are leaving their jobs at a faster pace than in many neighboring states.

High turnover can have many causes, such as pay, opportunity, relocation, but workplace culture and management style often play a role.

In some cases, employees simply decide it’s less stressful to find a new job than to fight a battle with a difficult boss.

Fewer Formal Complaints

Interestingly, Kentucky’s rate of formal workplace complaints was relatively low compared with some other Southern states.

The study found 3.69 discrimination and harassment charges per 10,000 employees, lower than in Tennessee and Alabama.

That gap between online searches and official complaints points to something many workers already know: filing a complaint can feel risky, complicated, or simply exhausting.

For plenty of employees, venting to Google or quietly polishing up a résumé might feel like the safer option.

A Snapshot of Workplace Frustration

Taken together, the numbers paint a picture that may feel familiar to many workers. Kentucky isn’t among the most toxic workplaces in the country, but the data suggests a fair share of employees are dealing with difficult managers and trying to figure out what to do next.

Sometimes that solution involves HR.

And sometimes it involves a late-night Google search and a job application or two.

We've all been there!