If you have recently graduated and are now planning to work, save the enthusiasm as we are going to uncover the truth about workspace below! Earning money has never been easy. You’ve got to work hard in order to earn, or that at least seems to be the rule. But what happens when you exhaust yourself working day and night without receiving the respect, recognition or money that you deserve? Not just internships, which are commonly unpopular for falling under the category of labor, but sometimes a company or a boss will exploit all the employees altogether. Usually, a startup with a lot of problems such as no internal structure, no business plan, and no financial resources tend to exploit its workers to the fullest with some or no pay. But that myth holds a little truth, as popular big names are also in the race to exploit its employees on a daily basis!
The most important thing for a business is not its infrastructure, finances or management, but its people. But does this notion hold any truth? Do people and big companies really respect and give the employees the due pay and recognition that they earn and deserve? Most people are unhappy with the amount of pay that they get at the beginning or end of every month in comparison to the amount of hard work that they actually put in. This exploitation at the workplace in the name of ‘business’ and ‘exposure’ has been accepted and made peace by the people over time, which only makes it okay for the companies to continue and act this way in the future.
Exploitation at work can be of various kinds, such as low wages, extra hours, work from home after office, deductions in salary, etc. If you feel like you are being underpaid and used at the end of every day, it might be a hint that you are being exploited at work. A study has reported that in Japan, people dying of overwork are quite common. If draining people of their energy and exploited their skills and abilities isn’t a form of mental torture, then we don’t know what is!
The most common method of exploitation seen at work worldwide is through not paying the workers enough for the work that they put in. If you think you are being bombarded with work whilst not getting paid for the extra work and efforts you put in, realize this mistake and speak up. As a rightful employee, you are only paid for the work you are limited to do, already mentioned in your contract. If your boss is making you burn the midnight oil or forcing you to attend extra shifts, you might be a victim of exploitation!
Working overtime and getting underpaid goes hand in hand. If you are an intern, there are chances that you are working a lot more than you are supposed to, with the expectation that you must not speak up against it and accept what comes your way in the name of exposure. Exploitation of beginners and new interns is a very common sight at the workplace and you must realize your worth and not fall for this trail that you might get tricked into by your superiors.
We all are working for the money. However, one way that the companies tend to exploit its employees is through late or no payment. This is a sure sign of exploitation that you must absolutely speak up against. Keeping mum on matters like these will only give them the opportunity of continuing this behavior further. You cannot show that you are not getting affected by this as this is not just illegal, but something that you can demand with all your heart and soul.
Every employee that has given himself to a company expects something in return other than pay and respect. Paid leaves or vacation leaves are something that every employee deserves, and if you think that you are not given enough leaves annually, then it's a sign that you might be getting exploited at work.
If many a time, your ideas and credits go unnoticed or your boss fails to even appreciate you for your efforts, then you might be a victim of exploitative behavior at your workplace. It doesn’t matter if it’s just you or every employee that your boss treats this way, but often the superiors take the credit for the work of beginners or a low-status employee that is often taken lightly.
At the office, if your boss assigns you a task which fails to match your qualifications and skills, you are bound to fail at it. The tag of failure that’ll hang around your neck is a sign of exploitation and something that you surely do not deserve to go through. All you can do about it is speak up against it and if you are assigned irrelevant, menial tasks that require someone with much greater qualifications to work upon, then you must find a way to not attend these.
Remember how you were promised that you’d be paid for that extra day you worked but hasn’t received the payment yet? There are high chances that you never will. In order to avoid falling for these false promises, stick to your work and do not get over excited if your boss needs an extra hand for some pending work. Politics at the office is not uncommon and must be dodged as much as possible.
If your boss prefers to assign tasks and clients to kiss- asses at the office, this not only makes up for unprofessional behavior but also counts as exploitation of worker’s rights. Work abuse with undeserved payment just because you prefer to focus on your work rather than showing an unwanted interest in your boss’s personal life, recounts as exploitation too.
If you were promised a fixed number of paid leaves for the month or a specific amount of salary that has now received unexpected reductions, you might be a victim of work abuse at your office. This act is not just legal but makes the employee feel as if he has been used. The company tends to lose the employee’s loyalty and respect in return which most of the time the company doesn’t care to pay a heed to.
#1. Realize
Most of the time, naive employees, interns or new joiners don't even realize that they are being exploited by their co-workers, seniors or boss, which goes unnoticed and by the time they do realize, the harm has already been done. If you happen to notice any of the above signs taking place in your work life, then you must realize and accept that you have been a victim of the company’s wrongdoings and exploitation. You can either talk to a friend, your boss or even take it to the HR in order to ensure that this never happens again to you or anybody else.
#2. Be Patient
If you are being exploited by a senior at the office, don’t lose your calm as it will only make you look as the bad guy. You don’t want to lose your respect for the wrongdoings of others. Give it a thought and deal with the situation calmly. Take it to human resources as they will further take the necessary actions that have to be taken against such exploitative behavior.
#3. Work Someplace That Deserves You
If you think that things might be going out of hand and the workload is way too much with very less pay in return, then you must realize your worth and apply to other places and look for a job that you deserve and a place that deserves you. Upload your CV’s on job sites and keep your eyes open for opportunities and companies that might be hiring. Feeling being used, stressed and depressed at the end of each day can take a toll on your mental health. Don’t make your life revolve around work as it is just a part of it.
#4. Don’t Lose Your Calm
If you are developing any issues with someone’s behavior or treatment at work towards you and you think that you don’t deserve it, talk it out. You can take the help of your loved ones, your spouse or even your human resources for that matter. Do not lose your calm and focus on your work. Don’t let it affect you more than it should.
#5. Consider The Reasons
Before pointing the blaming finger on others, have a look at yourself as well. Maybe your boss is asking you to do extra work because you might be failing to achieve your target goals. Make sure you do not overthink this behavior and realize who’s mistake it actually is. Own up if you think it is your mistake and don’t give others a chance to point fingers at you as it will only affect your image.
#6. Let Go
If you have suffered something like this at your previous office or are currently being a victim of, then take actions or speak up against it rather than keeping it within yourself and letting it ruin your mental peace and productivity.
Here are a few signs of worker exploitation and ways in which you can deal with it! Leave a comment if you think this article was helpful!
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