5 Clear Signs You Are Being Taken Advantage Of At Work

By Michelle Wanjiku
As much as it takes a lot of hard work to get ahead at your workplace, working late nights, taking on extra work and so on, you need to ensure that you don’t end up becoming a doormat.
It’s okay to do more than is required of you at work because this is how you achieve career growth, but it is important to also ensure that your boss or colleagues don’t end up taking you for granted and using your desire to succeed to give you more work.
Here are signs you are being taken advantage of
1. People have stopped asking whether it’s okay to hand you more work
It is a clear sign that you are being taken advantage of when your colleagues stop asking you if it’s okay to give you more work.
Yes, from time to time your boss can give you extra work because they are in charge but if it becomes something that happens on a daily basis and you are given work that is not even aligned to your job description.
What you need to do is learn how to say no without offending your boss so that you don’t end up losing your job. Ensure you find a good way to tell your boss that you have too much work on your plate.
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2. No one ever says thank you
Obviously, you should not expect a thank you for doing what is required of you, but your work should be recognized once in a while.
Getting positive feedback from your manager or boss will go a long way in boosting your morale and will also ensure that you are on the right track to career growth.
Your boss might not be in a position to know all the work you are putting in, so you should arrange a meeting once in a while to discuss your progress and review your performance.
This will ensure that your boss knows how valuable you are to the organization which means you will be remembered when the next promotion comes up.
3. You’re spending a majority of time doing things that are outside your job description
If you find that you spend most of your time doing things that are not in your job description and as a result barely have enough time to focus on your own duties then this could mean you are being taken advantage of.
Not to mention that your boss will end up thinking you are a non-performer and you will always find yourself working late when everyone else leaves the office on time.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to help your colleagues; however, it should not be at the expense of your own work.
If the projects are from your manager then it might be time to have a discussion with them about how the extra work is affecting yours.
4. You haven’t been compensated for your efforts
Being given extra work can be a blessing as well because in some instances it could lead to a promotion or salary increase because of the extra responsibilities.
However, if the company has no financial issues and is doing well and you have been given all these new responsibilities without a change in title, salary or even benefits, then you need to have a discussion with your manager or boss.
5. You’re not allowed to take breaks or time off
You need to take a break once in a while in order to avoid burn out and keep your mind fresh that is why leave days exist.
Your boss should not deny you off days, a good company and boss know the value of employees taking time off. It boosts productivity which in the long run is a good thing for the company.
No matter what industry you are in you are entitled to leave and your boss should not deny you the opportunity or instead pay you for the leave days you didn’t take.
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In Conclusion,
Before you go and start confronting your manager and colleagues for taking advantage of you, you need to try and figure out if you are part of the problem. You need to learn to say no and be willing to have difficult conversations with your boss. A good boss will appreciate your honesty and come up with a plan to ensure you don’t feel overworked.
The important thing to remember is that you should not approach your boss in a harsh or whiny manner as this will not help you in any way.