15 Signs You Are Not Respected at Work!

Being respected at work is crucial to your self-confidence, performance, morale, and general well-being.

If you’re not respected, or at least feel like you’re not respected, it’s going to make you feel awful – and even like you want to quit.

Before you make any hasty decisions, you should at least take a step back and make sure you’re properly evaluating how you’re being treated.

Here are 15 signs you are not respected at work and what you should do about it:

15 Signs You Are Not Respected at Work

1. You’ve Not Received a Raise or You Got Less than Your Coworkers

Salary isn’t always a fair representation of our worth, but it’s certainly an indication, especially when it comes to managers handing out raises.

If you didn’t receive a raise when your coworkers did or you got less than they did, this is a clear indication that you’re not respected or valued as they are.

It’s not easy to see or hear, but you have to take notice and think about your future if this is how you’re being treated.

Related – Here are 15 signs you ARE respected at work!

2. You’ve Been Passed Over for Promotions

Similar to not receiving the same amount of compensation as your colleagues, if you’re overlooked for promotions it’s also a clear sign you’re not respected.

This is usually because your boss or management doesn’t think you’re capable of taking on more responsibility – and that’s not a good feeling.

If you’re constantly being passed over, it might be time to start looking for a new job where your skills and abilities are better appreciated.

3. You’re Not Given the Resources You Need to Do Your Role

If you’re not given the resources you need to do your role, it’s a sign that management doesn’t respect you or your position.

This could mean not being given enough time to complete a project, not having the tech or software, or even the support from your coworkers.

It’s not a nice position to be in as it means your performance is going to suffer (and you’ll be more stressed) and it could spiral into being respected or valued even less.

4. Your Boss or Coworkers Never Ask for Your Opinion

If your boss or coworkers never ask for your opinion on work-related issues, it’s a sign that they don’t respect your knowledge or opinion.

This is a frustrating position to be in as it feels like your voice is never heard and that your ideas are never good enough.

If this is happening to you, try to be proactive and offer your opinion when you can, even if it’s not asked for.

This will at least show that you have good ideas and that you’re not afraid to share them and over time your coworkers will notice that you’re bringing value to the team.

5. Other Coworkers Often Take Credit for Your Work

It takes a lot of nerve to stand up and take credit for something someone else has done, so if this is happening to you you’re dealing with toxic coworkers.

Unless they are unusually brash, it also shows you that they don’t have any respect for you and your work.

If this is a regular occurrence, you should speak to your boss about it and see if there’s anything that can be done as it’s not only dragging you down but inflating someone else.

6. You’re Not Allowed to Work from Home While Your Coworkers Are

Working from home has become a lot more popular but it’s still only given to those who can prove they’re able to work without any supervision.

If you’re not allowed to work from home while your coworkers are, it’s a sign that management doesn’t trust you to work without being closely managed.

This is a frustrating position to be in as it feels like you’re not given the same level of responsibility as others, even though you might be just as productive (or more so) working from home.

7. Your Coworkers Hide Information from You

A huge sign of disrespect is when and if your coworkers deliberately hide information from you that would help you in your role.

This could be information about a new project, a change in policy, or even something as small as the name of a new client.

It’s not a nice feeling to be kept in the dark and it makes it difficult to do your job well if you’re not given all the information.

8. You’re Left out Of Important Communications

Along with not being given the information you need to perform at your best, if you’re left out of important communications, it’s a sign that management doesn’t respect you.

This usually means that your manager or the coworkers who are deliberately leaving you out of the loop are trying to push you out of being involved.

It’s not a nice feeling and often means that there is something bigger going on such as trying to isolate you and force you out.

Related – Here is how to deal with selfish coworkers who do not share information.

9. Your Boss Is Micromanaging You

Being micromanaged is one of the worst experiences you can have while carrying out your job, and I’ve experienced this myself.

It’s a sign that your boss doesn’t trust you to do your job to a high standard and at its most basic level means they don’t respect you.

If you’re not being given space or freedom to work how you want without your boss breathing down your neck there are some serious trust issues between you and your boss.

10. Even Your Coworkers Are Questioning Your Work

If your coworkers are also sticking their noses into your work and nitpicking or questioning you this shows that they don’t respect you.

It’s a sign that they think you’re not good enough or that your work is subpar and this can be really tough to deal with.

Coworkers who are not above you should not be questioning your work.

If they’re genuinely offering help, that’s one thing. But you shouldn’t have anyone looking over your shoulder as you work.

11. Your Coworkers Are Two-Faced and Talk Behind Your Back

A sure sign that your coworkers don’t respect you – not just as a coworker but also as a person – is if they’re two-faced and talk behind your back.

If you’ve noticed that your coworkers are friendly to your face but hear they’re talking about you behind your back, it’s time to address the issue.

This is a toxic environment and you don’t need that in your life and it’s going to drag you down professionally, and emotionally.

12. You Haven’t Formed Friendships with Any of Your Coworkers

There is always the argument that work friends are not real friends, but you know when you form a genuine friendship with a coworker.

If you’ve not made any real friends at work and feel alone, it may be because no one respects you.

I can’t say why this is, but it sounds like there are some barriers there that your coworkers are finding it difficult to get past.

13. Your Boss Doesn’t Make Time for You

Few things say your boss doesn’t respect you more than knowing they never make time for you, especially if you have some work-related issues you need their help with.

A good boss will always have time for their team, even if it’s just a quick chat in the kitchen or passing by your desk to ask how your day is going.

If you feel like your boss deliberately avoids you or is never around when you need them, that’s a sign they don’t respect you, or worse that they have an issue with you.

14. You’re Given All the Tasks No One Else Wants to Do

No one wants to be the office grunt and pick up all the tasks and jobs no one else wants.

So, if you find yourself being passed all the worst, unfulfilling tasks, it’s a sign that no one respects you.

It sounds like your coworkers and boss think you’re not capable of more challenging tasks, or just know they can get away with passing you the bad tasks.

15. Your Boss Tells You About Other Roles You Might Want to Go For

This always feels like a real kick in the stomach. If your boss has started telling you about other roles and suggesting you apply for other jobs, they really don’t want you around.

There is a slim chance that they only have your best interests in heart, and I’m sure they’ll try and come across like this is the case.

But it’s much more likely that they don’t value you or want you in your current role, and it’s incredibly disrespectful to tell you to your face that you should apply for other jobs.

Related – Here is how to tell your boss you have an interview!

What Should You Do if You’re Not Respected at Work?

We all want to be respected at work. When we are respected, it helps motivate us, we’re more productive, and most importantly we’re happy.

In an ideal situation and workplace, the manager would make everyone feel respected and valued so they can get the best out of them and create a culture of respect and keep morale high.

But it’s not as simple as that and there are often some complex dynamics within the workplace that cause all kinds of issues.

If you’re not respected at work, it’s a really tough situation to be in.

You might feel like you have no other choice but to put up with it and just get on with your job.

But it’s not healthy to stay in a situation where you’re not respected. It will have a negative impact on your mental and physical health, as well as your career.

You absolutely have to speak with your manager and air all of your concerns and feelings.

It’s not going to be an easy conversation, but it’s one you need to have.

Your manager needs to be aware of how you’re feeling and the situation you’re in.

They may not be aware of how their actions or words are affecting you and they need to know so they can change their behavior.

It’s also possible that your manager respects you, but there are other dynamics at play that you’re not aware of.

For example, if you’re not respected by your coworkers, it may be because they’re jealous of your position or think you’re trying to take their job.

The bottom line is that you’re only going to be able to find out what’s going on and whether or not you’re able to change it by speaking with your boss.

What they do with the information is going to dictate whether or not things change.

That’s what managers are in their role for, to make sure everyone is happy and able to work to their highest potential.

---

Image credits – Photo by Cherrydeck on Unsplash