Most working adults have experienced an uncomfortable situation at work; that’s the reality of interpersonal relationships in a professional setting. However, while no work situation is perfect in every respect, your workplace should be more positive than negative, and never a place where you feel distressed or ill at ease the majority of the time.
This can be difficult if you have a boss who frequently crosses the line of professional behavior, according to the employment experts at Allison & Taylor Reference Checking.
Your boss is crossing the line if he/she:
1. Makes references to your salary in front of other staff. This is private and confidential information, not public. Other employees don’t need to know what you’re being paid, and it’s true regardless of the type of comment that’s made. Whether the boss is saying, “I don’t pay you enough,” or “I pay you too much,” this type of comment will lead to resentment among staff members. Broadcasting your earnings undermines your position with the rest of the staff. They’ll either think you’re willing to work for peanuts, ruining their chances of earning more, or that you’re overpaid.
2. Reprimands you in front of other employees. This is a form of bullying, and it’s never acceptable. While you may have made a mistake or error that deserves discussion, a good employer will handle this professionally – and in private. A good boss should never denigrate your skills, either, with comments like, “This job is so easy, anyone could do it.”
3. Has unreasonable expectations. Managers need to communicate their expectations for work performance clearly, assist employees when needed, and set reasonable deadlines for projects. This one can be tricky… at times every employee has probably felt that he or she been dealt an impossible task. But if you’re consistently receiving unreasonable demands, you need to speak up. It could be a communication issue; perhaps something as simple as unclear directions are bogging you down. Or it could be a case of micromanagement (in which case, you were hired because the boss felt you were qualified to do your job, and it’s fine to remind him/her to let you do it). Just be sure you address it in a courteous and non-confrontational manner.
Come back next time for 3 more scenarios where you boss may be crossing the line and what you can do about it.
For more information about Allison and Taylor professional reference checking services click here.