Does this sound familiar?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lately you\u2019ve been finding yourself overworked, stressed, anxious and never completing your work on time. Do you find yourself doing multiple \u2018favours for co-workers, yet your work environment is becoming more hostile?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If this sounds all too familiar, it is likely you\u2019re being taken advantage of at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are some important signs you shouldn\u2019t ignore, if you feel your colleagues and boss may be pushing the envelope too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your boss frequently demands that you work overtime, especially without adequate compensation, or to finish work belonging to someone else, this goes beyond teamwork. Being constantly tied up completing other employees\u2019 duties, while your own workload, personal relationships and health suffers is an indication of exploitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you begin to feel purposefully left out of important discussions, ignoring your ideas or perhaps even worse, if your boss or co-workers takes the credit for your ideas, it indicates a lack of respect.<\/p>\n\n\n
Find your fit in the Caribbean<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n If you are consistently faced with tasks you\u2019re not qualified for, unrealistic deadlines or unachievable targets, rest assured your boss may be looking to get the most out of you, at your expense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Everyone makes mistakes, but your boss can be taking advantage of you by reprimanding you in front of other employees. You may also find yourself being ridiculed for every mistake, and having it reproached in meetings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is obvious that any form of physical abuse or violence indicates an abuse of authority. However, abuse manifests in other ways. You may be made to feel guilty, as not being a team player if you don\u2019t perform a certain task. Bosses may threaten to fire or demote you, unless you subject to their requests. You may even be made to feel that you\u2019re less \u201cbusy\u201d than your colleagues and hence you should do favours for them when asked. Verbal abuse also indicates exploitation, if you\u2019re subjected to you to bursts of anger or insults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you earn respect, you must respect yourself. Once you\u2019ve shown your co-workers you have respect for yourself, boundaries and priorities, people will treat you accordingly. If you\u2019re always seeking to gain validation from pleasing everyone, every time, being taken advantage of will likely be the end result. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Go ahead and take your scheduled breaks and lunch hour, if you feel you need the time. While there will be instances where you may work overtime due to a tight deadline or shortened staff, seek to get your work completed within your working hours and do not compromise on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If performing a task for someone is going to throw off your schedule, compromise your own work or be too much for you, you can politely refuse. Saying \u201cno\u201d does not mean you\u2019re not a good team player. It simply means you respect your boundaries and the company by denying a task you would not have the time to perform effectively, given your prior commitments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember, while your job is important, never place it before your wellbeing. Therefore, utilise your sick and personal days when necessary. Refrain from putting your job on a pedestal and being that employee who is accessible 24\/7, and says yes at your own expense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several measures you can adopt to rectify the situation, if you feel as if you\u2019re being taken advantage of at work. Some of these measures depend on the severity of it, as well as the nature of the exploitation you\u2019re subjected to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inform your boss that you are aware of their overbearing requests and its effect on your productivity you. Exploitation may not always be intentional. Your boss may also be battling a heavy workload and perhaps been seeking ways to alleviate this. He or she may also be experiencing issues with their superiors. A civil discussion may improve your situation given you state valid reasoning and ask for appropriate concessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If a meeting with your boss does not improve the situation, and if the nature of your exploitation is abusive in any way, you can direct your complaints to the Human Resources department. While there is no guarantee it will always be resolved to your satisfaction, you can file a complaint or ask to be transferred to another department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you feel you\u2019re being taken advantage of by co-workers, it would be in your best interest to change the nature of the working relationship. If you cannot accommodate their request, let them know that you are preoccupied with your own workload. Start saying yes, only if you have the time and energy to lend.<\/p>\n\n\nUnrealistic expectations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Berating you publicly<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Abuse of power<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to make sure you aren\u2019t exploited in the workplace?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Develop respect for yourself<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Set specific boundaries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Know when and how to use the word \u201cNo\u201d.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Take care of yourself<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What to do when you\u2019re being taken advantage of at work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Request a meeting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Reach out to Human Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Change the work-relationship dynamics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n