The best (and worst) bosses of 2017

Chieh, who runs the US e-tailer Boxed, foots the bill for his employees’ children to go to college and also offers to pay up to $20,000 for employees’ weddings. (Misha Friedman/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Ian treated all 42 of his staff to an all expenses paid luxury holiday in Marbella to mark the 20th anniversary of the company. The MD of the British travel and party firm Red 7 took his team to the Spanish resort to celebrate for three days. He said his people were the “beating heart” of company and deserved their treat. (Red 7/Facebook)

When Madalyn Parker, a web developer and engineer, wrote a short email to colleagues saying she would be off for a couple of days to “focus on my mental health”, her boss’s response went viral. Far from blowing his top, Ben Congleton said Madalyn was “an example to us all” who was helping to “cut through the stigma so we can bring our whole selves to work”. (Madalyn Parker/Twitter)

As one of the world’s richest and most successful business people, getting advice from Bill Gates is like gold dust. But the Microsoft boss was only too happy to publish a series of pearls of wisdom in 14 tweets in which he revealed a few key life lessons. “I measure my happiness by whether people close to me are happy and love me, & by the difference I make for others,” he wrote. (Getty Images)

As CEO of General Motors, Mary Barra is one of the most powerful woman bosses in the world – and in a male dominated industry, to boot. She’s also not afraid to challenge the status quo in gas guzzling America, announcing plans to take the company down the electric vehicle road. (Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Fortune)

Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s colourful and controversial leader found himself in hot water in September when the airline cancelled tens of thousands of flights at short notice after a “cock up” over pilot holiday rotas. The issue was compounded when O’Leary at first said he wouldn’t pay for those affected to fly on rival airlines – something that’s against EU rules. (Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Another larger-than-life character, Mike Ashley was accused of vomiting into a fireplace after a pub drinking game, a court was told in July. During other meetings, Ashley – who has described himself as a ‘power drinker’ – was alleged to have expressed his “boredom and frustration” with City figures by lying under the table to “have a nap”. The lurid details emerged as he successfully contested a claim that he reneged on a £15m deal with former business colleague Jeff Blue. (Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Hollywood film mogul has been ostracised by the industry after a number of actresses spoke out about his sexual harassment and abuse. Weinstein is alleged, among other things, to have promised to advance their movie careers in return for sexual favours. His downfall saw the behaviour of dozens of other men in the film, TV and entertainment industry questioned.(Getty Images)

When United Airlines passenger David Dao was forcibly removed from a flight to make room for airline staff, a video of the struggle swept the internet. CEO Oscar Munoz sought to justify the action as Dao was “disruptive” and “belligerent” but was forced to backtrack after days of bad publicity before offering a full apology. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Perhaps not entirely his fault, but the BBC director general found himself having to defend the TV giant after a glaring gender pay gap was exposed showing two-thirds of its stars earning more than £150,000 are male. The revelations prompted more than 40 women presenters to write to him demanding he take action… (Barcroft Media via Getty Images)