13 Signs Your Job Is Taking Advantage of You

It’s easy to get lost in the grind, especially when you are dedicated to your job and are hoping to advance to a position that helps you move beyond living paycheck to paycheck.

But often, hard workers don’t realize when they are being taken advantage of. Recognizing the signs can be challenging. No one wants to be considered a slacker, but boundary-setting is essential.

Here is how to tell if your workplace is exploiting you and what you can do about it.

If you never receive any recognition, that is a sign that you are being taken for granted.

Instead of fishing for compliments or gritting your teeth, ask for a meeting so you can discuss your accomplishments.

If your boss is unable or unwilling to meet or doesn’t thank you for your accomplishments, consider looking for another job where the boss will appreciate you and where you will earn enough to help pay your bills — and then some.

Dependability is an excellent quality, but there is a fine line between being a team player and the team pushover.

If you are the go-to person for overspill work, forgotten deadlines, or tasks others screw up, politely but firmly stand your ground. Decline tasks that don’t align with your job duties.

The stress of always agreeing to take on new projects adds up — especially when it comes without extra compensation. Break the cycle.

This doesn’t mean you should automatically say no. But before saying “yes,” take a moment to assess your workload. You can politely say, “Unfortunately, I don’t have time.”

“Praise thiefs” are the worst: Don’t let a boss steal credit. Reclaim ownership for your accomplishments.

Don’t go over your manager’s head to complain. Instead, gently remind the manager that the idea was yours, or at least highlight your contribution in a polite way.

Sometimes, we need to hunker down. But being consistently expected to meet unfair deadlines is a sign you are not well-treated.

If the boss volunteers you for a project and then is frustrated when your work isn’t done, that’s a warning sign.

Sometimes, one-off emergencies are unavoidable, and it’s all hands on deck. But if these emergencies are frequent — and it’s your hands on deck and not those of your boss — you are not being treated fairly.

You won’t have time to complete your job if you are loaded down with the boss’s extracurriculars.

Helping is great, but if it’s taking over your calendar, it's time to scale back.

If your boss is putting too many demands on you, share what your workload looks like and ask them how they would like you to prioritize — or how you can eliminate extra tasks.

Does your boss ignore you until they need something?

Having a friendly relationship is great and can make the workday more enjoyable. But if your boss only gets personable when they need something, this faux-friendly veneer can feel like manipulation.

Some bosses will overburden you with tasks just before — or just after — inviting you to grab a beer. Don’t fall for it.

If your workload keeps increasing but you never get a raise, talk to your boss. Perhaps the boss will be open to a pay hike.

If not, it might be time to discuss a reshuffling of tasks. Feeling like you are being exploited is unlikely to enhance your sense of job satisfaction.

Some workers never get time off. If your boss complains that your vacation is a hardship or never approves time off, it suggests that you might be in a toxic work environment.

Also, you should be leery of bosses who contact you while you are on PTO.

Some bosses retaliate when you set boundaries. If you decline their pet project, they may respond by excluding you from projects, denying you credit, or becoming passive-aggressive.

If the behavior of your boss makes you uncomfortable or puts you on edge, the boss may be abusing their authority.

When managers are short-staffed, they often squeeze extra time out of direct reports. This can encroach on weeknights, weekends, and vacation days.

Talk to your boss and explain you are nearing burnout. After all, you want to be a team player, and employee burnout is bad for everyone.

Some employees are constantly “out of the loop.”

Perhaps you are being asked to do extra work, but without sufficient communication to effectively tackle the job. Or maybe you are constantly sidelined from meetings, or the boss never meets with you at all.

If you are not valued, perhaps it is time to look for a new job.

Unless you were hired for a support role, your time should be spent doing the work for which you were hired. Bosses should not ask you to drive them to the airport, pick up dry cleaning, or fetch coffee.

It’s uncomfortable, but you can politely decline: “The next time I happen to stop there, I’m happy to pick you up a latte. I’ll let you know.”

Recognizing the signs that you’re being taken advantage of is the first step to reclaiming your professional life, personal life, and mental health.

Don’t be afraid to set boundaries and have honest conversations with your boss. No one else is going to do it for you.

Remember, it’s possible to stand up for yourself without killing the hope that you will advance your career and boost your bank account.