How would you handle being undervalued at work? Would you try to change things or accept them?

Many employees experience unfair treatment from their bosses. They might even feel they don’t get paid fairly. If you’re feeling mistreated, consider leaving your job. But before you quit, you should take some time to evaluate whether your situation is salvageable.

You may be able to negotiate better pay, benefits, or other perks. Or you could start looking for another position within the company. In either case, you can ask your employer for a raise.

You could also talk with HR about how to improve your working conditions. Finally, if you think you have been unfairly treated, you can file an internal complaint against your boss.

If you decide to stay in your current position, there are several ways to deal with the fact that your boss doesn’t value you.

1. Don’t Take it Personally.

If you find yourself getting defensive about being singled out for criticism, consider that there could be another reason your boss is giving you grief. A recent study found that women tend to hold themselves to higher standards than men. So if you’ve been told you’re doing something wrong, chances are good that you aren’t.

The same goes for praise. Women tend to be more self-critical than men, often giving themselves credit for things they didn’t accomplish. A woman’s tendency to overrate herself is one of the reasons behind her lower salary compared to a man’s, according to research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

So if you think your boss is singling you out because they don’t like you, ask yourself if you’re holding yourself to too high a standard. If you’re feeling defensive, try to step back and see if there’s anything else going on.

2. Look for the Cause.

Sometimes, people who treat others poorly don’t realize what they’re doing. It could be that they don’t know any better. And sometimes, people who act badly toward others are plain mean.

In those cases, you’ll need to figure out what motivates them. Is it jealousy? Do they dislike you personally? Are they trying to make up for past mistakes?

Once you understand the cause, you can look for solutions. For example, suppose someone is treating you badly because they feel threatened by you. In that case, you can help him, or she feel less threatened by showing confidence and acting professionally.

Or if someone is rude because of a bad temper, you can avoid provoking that person.

Finally, if someone treats you badly because they aren’t competent at their job, you can work with that person to fix the problem.

3. Learn What Your Boss Appreciates.

It’s important to remember that only some appreciate the same things. Some people value hard work; others appreciate creativity. Others appreciate honesty; still, others appreciate politeness.

When you’re dealing with a boss who doesn’t value you, you need to learn what your boss loves so you can show appreciation. This will help you build rapport with your boss and earn their respect.

For instance, if your boss likes to be praised, you should praise them when you get the chance. Or, if your boss enjoys helping others, you can take advantage of this trait by asking your boss for advice whenever you need it.

Of course, you should stay moderate. Only start praising your boss sometimes you see them. Instead, pick one thing your boss does well and focus on it.

4. Reassess your Relationship Status.

You may have thought your relationship with your boss was fine until recently. But things may have changed. Maybe your boss has started behaving differently toward you.

If this is the case, then you need to reassess your situation. Ask yourself whether you want to continue working under this manager. If you decide to do, you must determine how to deal with your boss.

If you decide you don’t, you need to find another position.

Either way, you need to move forward quickly. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to change your situation.

5. Consider Moving On.

If you’ve tried everything you can think of, but your boss continues to treat you poorly, you might consider leaving.

This is especially true if you’re unhappy in your current role. If you’re miserable, you probably won’t enjoy your next job as much. You might even resent your new employer.

On the other hand, if you’re happy where you are, then you should stay put. After all, you don’t want to leave a good job only to regret it later.

So before making any rash decisions, talk to your boss about your concerns. Explain why you’re unhappy and ask for changes to improve your situation.

If your boss agrees to make these changes, you can benefit from the improved environment.

Otherwise, you can keep doing what you’re already doing. But you’ll need to consider moving on if your boss refuses to make changes.

6. Provide solutions.

Your goal is to provide solutions to problems rather than complain about them. For example, if your boss is rude, you could say something like: “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”

Instead of complaining, you’re explaining your behavior. And instead of getting angry, you’re showing empathy for your boss.

The key here is to offer solutions rather than complaints. Complaining rarely accomplishes anything. So try to avoid complaining unless you have no choice.

In addition, don’t expect too much from your boss. They will only become more understanding after some time.

So while you should always try to resolve conflicts, you must also accept that some situations aren’t fixable. And if they are, then you need to learn how to live with them.

7. Assess the overall culture.

While you may not be able to change your immediate situation, you can still influence the culture at work. After all, if everyone else is treating you badly, your boss may feel pressured to act similarly. And if they don’t feel comfortable speaking up, then you’ll never know.

So before you confront your boss, you must assess the overall workplace culture. Are people generally respectful? Do they speak respectfully to each other? Is there a sense of camaraderie among co-workers? If so, you shouldn’t worry too much about your treatment.

However, if the culture seems toxic, you should take action immediately. This includes talking to your supervisor and HR representative.

You can explain that you’re uncomfortable working in this environment and ask whether you can find another position within the company.

You can also tell your manager that you prefer to work elsewhere. However, you don’t want them to get upset. Instead, you should state your preference.

Refrain from demanding that your manager fire someone else. It’s unlikely that they will do so. But if your manager agrees to let someone go, you can use this as leverage.

8. Make a list of what you’ve done.

It’s important to acknowledge your accomplishments when dealing with difficult bosses. After all, you’ve done plenty to earn their respect.

So after discussing your issues with your boss, write down everything you’ve accomplished during your time at the company. Then show your list to your boss.

This way, you can demonstrate that you’ve made significant contributions. And since you’ve been working hard, you deserve to receive credit for it. Of course, you don’t want to brag. Mention your achievements without making any claims.

But even if your boss doesn’t appreciate your efforts, you can still point out their mistakes. For example, you might say: “I noticed you were late today. I hope that wasn’t because you had car trouble.”

This shows that you’re willing to help your boss improve. And by doing so, you’re demonstrating that you care about the company.

9. Seek your manager’s perspective.

Finally, you can seek your manager’s advice on how to deal with your boss. Talk to your manager privately. After all, you don’t want your boss to think you’re trying to undermine them. So make sure that you discuss your concerns openly.

Then listen carefully to what your manager has to say. Don’t interrupt. Just nod occasionally. And when your manager finishes speaking, thank them for taking the time to share their thoughts.

Then follow through on those suggestions. You should try to implement them right away. For instance, if your manager suggests you approach your boss directly, you should do just that. And if your manager recommends that you keep quiet, then you should heed that advice.

Of course, you’ll have to decide which strategy is best for you. But whatever you choose, be sure to act quickly. Otherwise, your boss may become suspicious.

And if that happens, then you could lose your job. So it’s better to avoid confrontation altogether.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you should never put up with your boss’s bad behavior. It’s up to you to think up a plan of action if that happens. You don’t have any other options. Your salary is under the thumb of your supervisor. Therefore, it is essential that you advocate for yourself.

If your supervisor needs to appreciate your contributions, it’s time to take action. Don’t stay in a job where you don’t feel valued, either by visiting and looking for another or by not telling your supervisor how you think.

Our professional resume writers are here to assist you in advancing your career. To prepare you for the job market, we can help you revamp your resume and cover letter. Don’t waste your time in a workplace that doesn’t value you; plenty of other companies might use your skills.