You may not notice that you're being taken advantage of at work. Many places are very skilled at deceiving you into thinking you are simply being a "team player" when you are taking on more tasks.
However, if you notice that you are frequently being assigned tasks outside of your job description, you are probably being taken advantage of.
Here are some signs that the company that pays you is also taking advantage of you.
If you notice that you frequently get calls after your shift has concluded, it's time to set some boundaries. You need time for yourself and family as you probably spend at least 40 hours a week ignoring them. In addition, if you don't have enough time in the workday to complete your tasks, the company needs to purchase additional tech or hire more people.
Don't let supervisors or HR managers fool you, working outside of your job role for no extra pay is absolutely stupid. Business owners, for example, wouldn't make a habit of not charging clients for additional services...so why should you? If I hired a company to cut my grass for $100 and then I wanted them to also clean my roof, I would expect to pay additional money.
Similarly, if you are being paid as an operations analyst but the company also wants you to fix computers, they should pay you extra money. Whenever this happens its important to do either one of two things. You should either outright refuse, or perform the task and negogiate addtional compensation and a title change.
I've worked at many places that would chastise you if chose to forgo company dinners or parties. Places that behave like this are essentially cults. You should never be required to give up part of your personal life for any job. As I've said before, you spend way too much time there anyway!
There are few things worse than being taken advantage of at work, but there are couple of ways to prevent it.
Discussing salaries among employees is important. In fact, the only person(s) that benefits from salaries not being discussed are the owner(s) of the company. Without discussing pay, no one will ever know if they are being underpaid. This gives the company an even greater advantage than they already are.
People often use possessive pronouns, like "we" or "our" to describe company-owned assets. This is not only inaccurate but extremely damaging to an employee's psyche. When you claim ownership or part ownership of something that you don't own, you assume all the stress of an owner with a fraction of the salary.
It's a nasty habit that we are taught very early in our lives, unfortunately. People are often encouraged to personalize cubicles and offices that they work in or participate in company functions. But in reality, decorating a desk or office that you don't own makes about as much sense as tinting a rental car.
Here is a cool chart the translates that nonsensical language we all have picked up over the years, into intelligent statements.
Dumb Statement | Smart Statemnt |
---|---|
We don't make enough money on that product to sell it so cheap. | The company doesn't make enough money on that product to sell it for that price. |
Can you place the package in my office? | Can you bring the package to the office I'm in? |
My computer needs an update, can you assist? | The computer I'm using needs an update, can you assist? |
We were founded in 2019. | This company was founded in 2019. |
We are really being overcharged for this service. | The company is being overcharged for this service. |
We are making a million dollars on this account. | The company is making a million dollars on this account. Or my favorite, (Insert Owner's name') is making millions on this account. |
Don't hang up dozens of pictures of your family or adorn company property with personal decorative items. In the event you are terminated, you will have a lot to carry down to your car. Also, staring at pictures of your kids as security escorts you out of the building makes getting fired way worse.
If you are invited somewhere by the company and you don't want to go, politely decline the invitation. You really don't need to provide a reason why even if you feel compelled to do so. Your personal time belongs to you and no one else.
However, this is often easier said than done. You may feel the need to provide a reason, even if you have to lie. If you choose to go this route, be sure it's a lie you can stick with and remember months from now. Stating that you have a headache or some other ailment might work.
Most sane people won't question a person's health conditions. Then again, I have worked with some pretty insane people, so this may not work either. Honesty really is the best policy, even if it's the most difficult route to go.
Posted by: Matt Irving on 06/26/2022
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