Bosses Day 2009: Is your boss tops?

Tomorrow is Bosses Day 2009. And has it ever been tougher to be top dog?

Managing cutbacks, squeezing the last dime out of budgets, and generally playing bad cop more than good hasn't gone unnoticed in offices across the country: Almost two-thirds of America wouldn't take their bosses' job if they were asked.

So which bosses are truly leading the way in these roiling economic times? The top combine several attributes. First, the best bosses are the guys and gals keeping new contracts (and thus more profits) coming through the door. Second, bosses need a deft management touch. Third, in a time when "business ethics" is almost always written in quotes, the best bosses have shown ethical insight during their tenure at the top.

We've listed below a few CEOs we think qualify for the top ranks, but we'd really like to hear what you think. Tweet us, e-mail us (grantd@csmonitor.com), or post a comment below to tell us about your boss – whether middle manager or corporate don – and we'll get back to you tomorrow with some of America's best.

•Stille family, owners of Nugget Market: In 81 years, not a single layoff for this West Coast gourmet supermarket chain.

•Dan Gilbert, CEO, Quicken Loans: Once headquartered in the Detroit suburb of Livonia, Mich., Mr. Gilbert has decided to move corporate base camp into the thick of the crumbling Motor City to inspire civic renewal and, hopefully, take advantage of cheap housing and other amenities for younger employees.

•Jeffrey Hollender, CEO and Chief Inspired Protagonist, Seventh Generation: Beyond his company's ecofriendly products, Mr. Hollender is a passionate advocate for environmental causes from corporate responsibility to sustainable palm-oil production. Employees at Seventh Generation are encouraged to question the boss – and get a host of incentives to make their lives more green.

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– David Grant is a Monitor contributor. Let us know about the best bosses you know on Twitter, via email at grantd@csmonitor.com or by commenting below.