How do I deal with a toxic boss?

Document specifics, not feelings. Keep a log of dated incidents — what was said, what was done, who witnessed it. 'Manager publicly criticised my work in front of the team on [date]; pattern repeated on [dates]' is useful evidence. 'Manager is mean' is not. The documentation matters because UK grievance and tribunal processes require specifics.

Use HR's formal channels deliberately. Most UK companies have a formal grievance process. Raising concerns informally rarely changes anything; raising them formally creates a paper trail and forces investigation. Don't expect HR to take your side — HR exists to protect the company, not you. But the process itself sometimes produces change because it makes the toxic behaviour visible upward.

The realistic outcome distribution. Across hundreds of cases I've seen: roughly 20% of internal complaints lead to meaningful manager change. Roughly 30% lead to the complainant being managed out (the toxic boss usually keeps their role). Roughly 50% lead to the complainant exiting voluntarily within 6-12 months.

Start interviewing in parallel, immediately. Internal complaints take 3-6 months minimum to resolve. External job searches take 2-4 months at mid level. Running them in parallel means you have an offer in hand by the time your internal process concludes — which gives you genuine optionality and often produces a better outcome on either path.

The framing that matters in interviews. Don't badmouth your current manager in interviews. Reframe forward: 'I want to work in a team where [the positive thing]. That's not what's available where I am.' Interviewers respect candidates who handle adversity professionally; they reject candidates who sound combat-ready.