Having to stand up to your boss can be one of the hardest things you will ever have to do. You may be rightfully concerned that your boss will change his or her viewpoint of you or that you will be passed up for a promotion or a pay raise because you bring up difficult subjects. However, sometimes you need to bring up your boss’s actions either to him or her or to another superior simply because it is the right thing to do for yourself personally and for the company as a whole.
When your boss is harassing you
Verbal, physical and sexual harassment are never to be tolerated in any workplace. You may feel that you have to put up with it because it is coming from your boss, but this is simply not the case. If your company has a human resources department, you may want to bring this up to someone there rather than bringing it up in a face-to-face meeting with your boss. The key is to get yourself out of that difficult and dangerous situation as soon as possible. Chances are if your boss is making you feel uncomfortable, he or she is making others feel uncomfortable as well.
When your boss takes all the credit
Your success in climbing the corporate ladder should come before your sense of humility and duty to your boss. While your boss is in charge of you and responsible for your success to some extent, your successes should be placed on your shoulders for all to see. Allowing your boss to take the credit for one of your accomplishments can hinder your chances of a promotion.
When your boss asks you to lie
Dishonesty in the workplace is surprisingly common yet very uncomfortable. However, some bosses believe that it is your duty to do whatever they ask of you with no questions asked. You must stay true to your own set of moral values even if that means respectfully declining. Try asking your boss questions about how what he or she is asking you to do lines up with the company’s policies.
When you’re fired for refusing to do something unethical
Some bosses become very bothered when employees refuse to do something that they see as illegal or unethical, such as following dishonest hiring and firing practices or destroying incriminating data. They may even resort to firing you in order to find someone who will do what they want. Whether you are disciplined in-house with a suspension or a denial of certain rights or are fired, a wrongful termination lawyer can stand up for your rights in court and can help either to get your reinstated to your position or to have you awarded compensation.
The majority of bosses are honest, and many are a joy to work under at a company. However, those who are unethical or dishonest can be difficult to obey and may even threaten you in an attempt to gain your compliance. Remember that in these cases you always can turn to a wrongful termination lawyer who will fight for your rights and ensure that you are treated fairly.
When do you think it’s right to stand up to your boss? Have you ever done it? Tell us in the comments below.
Dixie is a freelance writer who loves to write for business, finance, women’s interests, and education. Dixie lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters who are the inspiration for her writing.
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