How to Deal with an Abusive Boss

If you are like most people, you experience the occasional bout of disliking your job. Even in the best situations, people have bad days where they dream of winning the lottery and moving on. Unfortunately for some, the bad days outweigh the good and their situation crosses the line into something that is abusive.

If you are dealing with ongoing inappropriate behavior from your boss, it is time to take action. Employment laws are designed to protect employees and ensure everyone has a workplace in which they feel safe and able to perform their job duties. Sadly, there are times when the abusive behavior of a superior creates a hostile work environment and legal intervention may be necessary.

How do you know if you are dealing with an abusive boss?

If your boss or anyone in a position of authority acts abusively toward you, you need to take action as soon as possible. Your best bet is to keep a record of anything that occurs and report it to the appropriate department within your company. If you believe you are at risk, make sure you bring a witness with you during all meetings with your boss.

Another form of workplace abuse is emotional distress. Everyone feels some level of distress at one time or another in the workplace, but there are times it crosses the line. If you feel that the emotional abuse is excessive or you are unable to perform your job duty because of emotional distress, you should take further action.

Finally, if you are facing discrimination of any kind, there are laws in place to protect you. If your boss abuses you because of your gender, age, religion, race, or any other protected status, he or she is breaking the law. These laws are in place to protect employees and ensure workplaces are not hostile.

If you are being victimized in the workplace, you have a right to take action, but it is important to carefully consider your situation beforehand. Some employees overreact to things that are normal in the workplace and filing a complaint over something small can damage your future with your current employer and your reputation with other potential employers. It is important that you understand your rights and your obligations and deadlines to report discrimination. An experienced attorney can help you determine if your situation involves general nuisance complaints or if you are involved in a serious situation that warrants legal action.

If you would like to know more, contact Miller and Steiert, P.C. to schedule a consultation.