Workplace Woes: What You Should Never Tolerate

If you’re treated a certain way, you might start believing that’s what you deserve. It’s no surprise that women often develop feelings of inadequacy and self-esteem issues related to work. Every day, women face systematic discrimination in the workplace, which can manifest in unequal pay, unfair evaluations, and more subtle forms like social bias. You have every right to demand better treatment or seek another job. Here are some specific issues you should never tolerate, even if you know deep down you deserve better.

Lack of Promotion

According to a survey by the recruitment agency Fairygodboss, the most common complaint from women about their jobs is the lack of career advancement. Another survey conducted by the auditing company Deloitte found that half of the respondents felt they lacked leadership qualities. If you think this way about yourself, others will too.

Ghosting

Ghosting isn’t just a phenomenon in romantic relationships; it can happen at work too. While people may not always have time to respond to emails, and some tasks or questions may be less important than meetings, if you need information to do your job correctly and no one is responding, you have every right to insist on and demand a response.

Shaming for Negotiating

Being denied a raise is one thing, but it’s much worse when your boss starts manipulating you and telling you that your behavior is inappropriate. Or perhaps they offer you bonuses and then refuse to pay them under false pretenses. Everyone has the right to ask for more money for their work, and this should never be considered a dishonorable act.

Criticism for Lack of Telepathy

If your boss is angry with you for not doing a task you weren’t informed about, know that you’re not alone. It’s fair to ask for clarification on what they want and then complete the task—or conversely, fix a mistake you weren’t previously told about. It’s unfair to criticize people for not being telepathic, and bosses need to learn to take responsibility for how they communicate and convey information.

Unreasonable Deadlines

You have the right to determine the order of tasks in your schedule, including your personal life. Sometimes you may not even have the chance to read an email, let alone complete a task, and you’re not obligated to drop everything for one person. Freelancers often face this issue, as clients rarely consider that you have other clients. The ultimate scenario: someone doesn’t respond to your messages for two weeks and then demands a response to their request within five minutes.

Unequal Pay

This still happens even in the most progressive companies and can affect mental health. A study in the journal Social Science & Medicine showed that women who earn less than men with similar work experience and education levels are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. If you’re truly being paid less than your male colleagues, you have every right to have a serious conversation with your boss. For more information, you can refer to this authoritative source.

Comments on Your Appearance

Regardless of whether the comments fall under sexual harassment or ‘fashion police,’ your appearance should not be a topic of discussion at the workplace. Unless you’re a model or an actress auditioning for a specific role, your clothing or makeup has nothing to do with your work. Discussing such topics can make you feel like an object rather than a valuable intellectual asset.