Turn the Tables and Rate Your Boss

Winning Workplaces recently partnered with The Wall Street Journal to create an annual ranking of the best small workplaces in North America. What makes these organizations stand out has much to do with their office culture, explains Clark -- does it bring people together with a sense of purpose and move them forward?

Not surprisingly, the boss sets the tone, which can foster -- or discourage -- an environment for people to perform well. "There's a lot of data that show engaged employees will bring their best effort to work," says Clark.

To develop his contribution, Adelman relied on research from sources similar to Winning Workplaces, including sites like Work Rant, but to create "something that was more of a career resource," he explains. Rather than using stories for entertainment value, eBossWatch uses others' experiences to provide job seekers with a valuable look inside. Rating a boss is free, and accessing a report is $3.99 per listing.

The site has taken off: "Thousands of people already commented on thousands of companies. I expected it to be something that would serve a strong need, but I didn't anticipate it growing as quickly as it did," Adelman says.

So if eBossWatch gives your potential employer the thumbs down, where can you look? Adelman's sister site, Jerk-Free Jobs, lists only companies that can demonstrate a positive work environment (the cost is $250 for a 30-day posting). Employers must have confirmation that their company has received an outside workplace award or ranking ("best company to work for" or "best employer," for example) or an external consultant's report that verifies its beneficial status.