Toxic bosses

Welcome to Career Insider. Here is a pretty sad statistic: Nearly 3/4ths of American workers have worked for a toxic boss at some point in their career, and one in three is working for one right now.*

What makes a boss toxic?

• They gossip

• They take credit

• They yell and threaten

• They are condescending

• They pick and choose their favorites

• They exhibit passive-aggressive behavior

• They discriminate or make inappropriate comments

In today’s email, you’ll learn when to bring human resources in to fix the problem.

^{*Source: Toxic Bosses Survey, by Harris}

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TOXIC BOSSES
Should HR get involved with your toxic boss?

Are you among the 30+% of people working for a toxic boss? If you do, here’s when to talk to Human Resources.

If your boss makes you feel bad or uncomfortable, it might be time to talk to human resources. If your boss yells a lot, makes mean comments, or treats you unfairly, it's not okay. Human resources can help you figure out what to do. It’s why they are there.

If you've tried talking to your boss but things haven't improved, you should go to Human Resources. They can keep things private and help find a solution without that burden falling completely on you.

They're there to make sure everyone feels safe and respected at work.

Remember, speaking up if your boss is making you feel bad is important. It’s generally best to talk to your boss first. If you’ve already done that or don’t feel comfortable, it might be time to let HR handle the situation.

If the human resources route doesn’t work, it’s probably time to find a new job. This has a hidden silver lining: People who switch companies make more money than those who remain loyal.

So, don’t be afraid to switch if things don’t improve.

You deserve it.

MONEY
When to NOT ask for a raise

One of the best ways to kill your chances of getting a raise is to ask at the wrong time, and lots of people do exactly that.

Never ask for a raise when your employer is experiencing financial difficulties. For instance, if your company is laying people off, it’s not a good time to ask for more money. Save your request for later.

Or, if you’re underpaid enough, consider looking for another job instead of banking on getting more money at your existing employer.

Other times when asking for a raise is a bad idea:

• If you just got a sub-par performance review

• If you don’t have a good relationship with your boss

• If you started your job less than 6 months ago

• If your company has a raise schedule and it’s close

• If you’re not truly underpaid (here’s how to find out)

Having your ducks in a row is important when asking for more money. Are you truly underpaid? If so, be ready with supporting documentation.

For instance, you might be underpaid if your job responsibilities increase significantly or other similar roles are paid more. However, just wanting more money doesn’t necessarily mean your salary isn’t fair.

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