Mal James
We all want to be respected at work. But are you?
I know. Often, it doesn’t feel that way.
You work hard to complete tasks to a high standard within the given deadline and are rewarded with what?
You guessed it…little recognition and more work.
Sometimes it can feel like you are just a cog in a machine, like you don’t matter and are simply not respected for what you do.
If you feel this way, you are not alone.
A recent survey suggests almost 70% of us feel that our efforts aren’t appreciated, let alone respected.
That being said, this may not be the case at all. You might be much more valued than you give yourself credit for. The signs aren’t always obvious.
Today, we uncover five signs that you are more respected at work than you realize.
Some might seem a little harsh.
So when reading this, know that I have no desire to persuade you to stay in a workplace where you don’t feel respected. You should probably make a change if you feel that way.
I will simply present you with some signs many seem to have forgotten.
Maybe you know them all already.
…let’s find out.
1) Your boss isn’t constantly looking over your shoulder
The stats on micromanagement are astounding.
Studies have revealed that 68% of people who were micro-managed said it decreased their morale. 55 % claimed it hurt their productivity, and 36% of people have changed jobs due to their bosses breathing down their necks.
Despite this, companies still put people who want to control every little detail in management positions. As many as 59% of employees have had a micromanager in one job or another.
When we delve into the reasons why this happens, it becomes clearer. As noted by Indeed, managers may do this for several reasons, but one is “a lack of skilled employees on their team.”
If your manager allows you to get on with tasks without constantly checking in on you, it is a clear sign that they respect your abilities, character, and right to approach tasks as you see fit.
While this sign is hard to ignore, the next one is an even more objective sign that you are respected at work. However, for some reason, we often forget about it.
2) You are paid a fair wage for what you do
I have several friends that are paid a high salary, well above industry standards. Yet, they complain that their boss is rude to them or expects a lot of them and say that they are not “respected”.
When this happens, it always reminds me of that scene from Mad Men when Peggy complains that her then-boss, Don, doesn’t say thank you.
And Don says…
“That’s what the money is for!”
Sure, your boss may not always be very polite to you. Sure, you may feel they don’t give you enough credit for your work. They may not always take the time to support you.
It would be great if they did all of these things.
However, being paid fairly or more than fairly for your work reflects how respected and valued you are in your job.
We have come to expect so many niceties these days that many have forgotten that work is essentially a transaction. You give time and energy, and your employer gives you money.
While some might disagree, it is not your boss’s responsibility to make you feel good about yourself by constantly telling you how well you are doing.
This thinking is the norm in the finance and investment sector. It’s not in other industries. People are not polite in the least most of the time.
But they show you respect by trusting your abilities and being honest with you even if the truth isn’t pretty. And by paying you well to do your job.
Make sure you have done your research, of course. Be realistic about your position, market averages, and what you bring to the table.
If when you have done that, you feel that your wage is fair, well, lucky you. You are likely among a small percentage of workers who feel that way.
A recent study suggests that the percentage of workers who are satisfied with their wages is as low as 32%.
3) You have been promoted
It should go without saying getting promoted is a sign that you are respected at work.
Your abilities are respected enough that you have been asked to take on more responsibility and likely have been rewarded with a higher salary.
Sounds obvious, right?
Well, it is…kind of.
These days, we are often so distracted and focused on continual gratification that we see being promoted as a given. Even if we do appreciate it initially, its effect quickly wears off.
Your work superiors are busy. They may forget to give you positive feedback on your work.
Maybe sometimes, they are short with you. In this case, it’s easy to feel that you are not respected.
However, think about it, if your abilities and achievements weren’t respected, you wouldn’t have been promoted.
It’s as simple as that.
4) Your work-life boundaries are respected
This is a big one. Do you feel that your personal boundaries are being respected? Do you have a good work-life balance?
If so, it’s a huge sign that you are respected at work.
Studies have shown that 40% of employees believe they do not have a good work-life balance.
The reasons?
Well, there are many such as company culture, personal perfectionism, and burnout. However, one of the reasons is bosses and supervisors.
If you have had a few bosses, I am sure you can relate to this.
Some bosses are completely unreasonable and have no respect for their employee’s personal time.
I once worked a 9-6 job where my boss regularly called me with “urgent” tasks on Saturdays and Sundays. Or he would send me a message at midnight asking for information despite having politely requested him not to do this.
And vacation, what is that? I would work on projects over public holidays and get task requests on annual leave.
And before anyone defends him, this wasn’t a startup, and I wasn’t in a particularly important position.
I am sure many of you have even more shocking stories.
I think we can all agree that this is quite disrespectful; we are employees, not slaves.
If you are not subject to such requests because your boss and colleagues respect the boundaries you set, you are probably more respected than you realize.
5) You aren’t constantly dreaming about changing jobs
Do you constantly daydream or fantasize about leaving your current job?
If not, lucky you.
According to statistics, over 30% of people are casually or actively looking for a new job.
If you are not one of these people, you are likely more respected at work than you realize.
While it may not always feel like it, not wanting to leave is a good indicator that you are given enough respect in your workplace to make you want to stay.
The bottom line
Although it might not always feel like it, if you can relate to many of the above signs, you are likely more respected than you realize.
However, remember that if you can’t relate to many or any of them, it’s probably not to do with you.
Many of these are dictated by company culture and the people you work with rather than your behavior.
If you truly feel that you are not respected in your workplace, it could be time for a change.
I hope this post has provided you with some food for thought and, as always, that it was an interesting read.
Until next time.
