Is My Boss Exploitating or Exposing Me?

In corporate employment, it is common for the seniors to delegate subordinate staff sometimes to the point where is becomes unfair. Have you heard about juniors who draft executive board papers, attend national meetings, drive corporate projects, etc. I know you have or even could be a victim of such occurrences. I have, and we see a lot of such in our African corporate companies. What comes to your mind when such things happen? What would make you make you think it is an exposure opportunity or exploitation? Let’s brainstorm some points that support each of these thoughts.

I would consider any assignment to be exposure if the following apply:

1. The assignment is relevant to your job

2. Notice of the assignment is given when there is still enough time to prepare

3. You are the only or one of the specialist on the subject assignment

4. You are aspiring for the position for which the assignment belong

5. The assignment has benefits such as documented credits for good performance, financial return in form of bonuses, it opens chances for a promotion or better employment opportunities, etc.

Opposites of the points above can be considered as exploitation. In addition to those are the following:

1. The boss is lazy to do the work

2. If poor performance on the assignment warrants a dismissal

3. All benefits will go to the boss and not for company

4. The assignment arises from poor performance of the boss

Points to each of these extreme opposites are many. I know you could come up with your own points that are even more than what I listed.

Let’s think together once again, if you happen to be a victim of exploitation what should you do? Do you reject the assignment, conveniently under perform to expose the boss, resign, or look for another job? The answer is simple – decide for that whose consequences you can take. What does this mean? Plan for the action you want to take, don’t be blind. I cover a topic on ‘How to Quit your day job’ in my blog where I tell of what should keep most of us employed till time is right.