18 Ways to Recognise If Your Boss Is Taking Advantage of You

Written By Lisa Marley

Most people are blessed with great bosses who appreciate their hard work, but this isn’t the case for everyone. Some people put up with a lot of workplace mistreatment before they realize it’s wrong, and bad bosses exploit that. Here are 18 ways to recognize if your boss is taking advantage of you.

They Overwork You

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

You expect to work hard at your job, but it’s not normal to be so exhausted by work that you have no energy for anything else. If your boss overburdens your workload, makes you come in early, and disrupts your work-life balance, they’re overworking you. Bosses like this rely on employees not complaining about it.

They Give You Tasks Outside Your Job Description

Photo Credit: PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

When you apply for a role, your duties are outlined in the job description. However, many employers take advantage of their employees by giving them tasks outside their job description without changing their salaries to match. Forbes warns that sensitive high-achievers often get taken advantage of this way.

They Play Favorites

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Unfortunately, favoritism regularly happens in the workplace, with bosses making exceptions for some employees and not affording others the same privileges. If you find yourself taking on a co-worker’s duties or unfairly picking up the slack for the rest of the team, you’re a victim of your boss’ favoritism.

They Make You Stay Late

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

When a big project is due, most employees usually volunteer to stay late and help. However, you shouldn’t be doing this all the time. If you’re not being paid overtime, staying late on a regular basis gives your boss free labor. Unless you refuse to keep staying, they’ll continue taking advantage.

They Don’t Let You Take Time Off

Photo Credit: Jester-Flim/Shutterstock

All employees are entitled to vacations, so it’s illegal for your boss to refuse to let you take time off. They can decline to approve your leave at certain times, but they can’t tell you not to take any at all. You’re entitled to time off; any decent employer will let you have it.

They Refuse to Promote You

Photo Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock

It’s not always possible to get a promotion when you want one, but if your boss expects you to work beyond your job title, they should seriously consider it. Bad bosses rely on hard-working employees going above and beyond without expecting a promotion, so they get more labor without paying for it.

They Don’t Give You Credit

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Putting time and effort into a project only to be denied credit for it is incredibly frustrating. When your boss does this, they take advantage of you and block your career progression. CNN recommends scheduling regular check-ins with your boss to record your contributions and ensure they see you.

They Call You Outside of Work

Photo Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock

When you sign a contract, you agree to the hours written down, so your boss isn’t technically entitled to your time outside those hours. If there’s something urgent, it’s good-spirited to pick up the phone, but if they regularly bombard you with calls or emails, they’re infringing on your personal time, which isn’t okay.

They Expect You to Organize Events

Photo Credit: G-Stock Studio/Shutterstock

Social events are a great way to unite the team and encourage co-workers to bond, but the responsibility shouldn’t fall onto just one person’s shoulders. In fact, if anybody should be organizing these events, it’s your boss. Making you do it all is another example of them taking advantage of your kindness.

They Change Your Hours

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Your hours can be adjusted after you’ve signed a contract, but this usually entails signing another contract to make it legal. A boss who changes your hours without contractual change is taking advantage by expecting you to work more for no compensation. If you’re in this position, ask for your hours to be officially adjusted.

They Criticize You For Using Sick Days

Photo Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock

When you’re sick, it’s important to take time off to heal yourself and avoid spreading your illness to others. Your boss should support you using your sick days for the good of the team, so it’s unprofessional of them to criticize you or ask you to come in regardless.

They Stop You Taking Breaks

Photo Credit: VGstockstudio/Shutterstock

All employees are legally entitled to at least one break while working. Harvard Business Review reports that taking periodic breaks boosts productivity and improves performance. Any boss who stops their employees from taking breaks denies them vital rest time and expects them to work themselves to burnout.

They Cut Your Bonus

Photo Credit: Pormezz/Shutterstock

Sadly, company leaders are notorious for prioritizing their bonuses over the financial well-being of the rest of the business. However, if you’ve earned a bonus, it’s illegal for your boss to cut it. They get away with this when good-natured employees don’t report the malpractice; don’t let the same happen to you.

They Turn You Into Their Assistant

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Most managers have an assistant who takes care of their admin tasks, so you shouldn’t be doing that unless that’s your official role. It’s nice to do a favor for your boss occasionally but don’t let them turn you into their assistant and burden you with the tasks they don’t want to do.

They Contradict Themselves

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Your boss is the head of your team, so they’re responsible for giving you instructions and guiding your career development. If they constantly say one thing and then change their minds, it confuses employees and leads to lower productivity. You’re being taken advantage of if you’re consistently picking up their slack.

They Don’t Listen to You

Photo Credit: Stella_E/Shutterstock

Good bosses listen to their employees. A survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found that 41% of employees feel managers need to improve their communication skills. It’s frustrating to speak to your boss and have them ignore your ideas while still relying heavily on your labor.

They Know Nothing About You

Photo Credit: fizkes/Shutterstock

Most people don’t want their bosses to know every little thing about them, but it’s a sign of good leadership when a manager knows basic things about their employees. If all your boss knows is your name, they likely see you as nothing more than a cog in the machine.

They Never Apologize

Photo Credit: Andrii Iemelianenko/Shutterstock

Nobody is above apologizing, even somebody who runs their own team. A boss who never apologizes shows a lack of self-awareness and responsibility for their mistakes. If they valued you as an employee, they’d say sorry for overworking or upsetting you. They’d feel terrible for taking advantage of your kind nature and strong work ethic.

Read More – 18 Things You Should Never Tell Your Partner

Photo Credit: insta_photos/Shutterstock

Honesty and communication are important in relationships, but not everything needs to be shared. If you think it might hurt your partner, it’s sometimes better not to say it. Hurtful words, especially in arguments, can cause long-term damage. Here are 18 things you should never tell your partner.

18 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER TELL YOUR PARTNER

How To Stop Chasing Someone Who Doesn’t Want You – Do These 17 Things Instead

Photo Credit: Olha Nosova/Shutterstock

When a relationship doesn’t go as you may have wanted or planned, we can sometimes find ourselves wasting time and energy chasing a connection that doesn’t exist. Save yourself from long periods of emotional distress by building these 17 things into your routine.

HOW TO STOP CHASING SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T WANT YOU – DO THESE 17 THINGS INSTEAD