8 Overt Signs of Exploitation at Work

Last Updated on December 17, 2023 by Daniel Boyce

In today’s world, there are plenty of ways people can take advantage of others.

Whether it is bullying, harassment, discrimination, or even just poor management practices, people can exploit each other in different ways.

We put together 8 overt signs of exploitation at work for you to become aware of this happening to you, or at least in your workplace.

This isn’t meant to stop passionate workers from achieving their goals at all costs, but rather to stop bad employers from taking advantage of passionate employees.

When someone exploits another person, it’s called “exploitation.”

There are several different types of exploitation, including physical, emotional, financial, sexual, psychological, and spiritual.

When we talk about exploitation at work, we’re talking about the physical, emotional, and/or financial type.

8 Signs of Exploitation at Work

One study found that the more passionate an employee is about their work, the easier it is to exploit them.

These types of employees are much more willing to work off the clock, perform responsibilities outside of their job description, and work for less pay.

Many employers may think that the employee has signed up for this, or that the work is a reward for this person.

But this is just a way for them to justify their actions.

This is leading to an overworked and under-appreciated population that could continue to spiral out of control if it’s not looked at.

1. Unfair Compensation

Figure out what your role at your current job is worth by looking into how much others in similar roles make.

This number can help you gauge whether or not you are getting paid fairly.

Take a look at the average qualification and experience level for that role.

Is there anything else you’re qualified for? Is there something else you could be doing that would earn you more money?

If you are severely underpaid, it might mean that you are being exploited at work. Don’t put up with it. Speak up about it.

Productivity in America has skyrocketed over the last four decades, but wages have not.

This often leads to feeling underpaid and undervalued, which leads to high turnover, burnout, and exploitation at work.

2. Micromanagement

Micromanaging is one of those things that people don’t like to admit they do. But it happens all too often.

And it can happen no matter what level of responsibility you hold in the workplace.

Micromanagement is associated with low morale, high turnover, and a reduction in productivity.

Micromanaging managers often think that they know what is best for you.

They want to control every aspect of your life, including how you dress, eat, sleep, exercise, and even where you go.

This type of behavior is toxic because it hurts morale and makes employees feel like they’re doing everything wrong.

If you’re getting micromanaged, there is a good chance that you’re being exploited.

If you know you’ve been doing everything correctly, and still feel that you’re being treated unfairly, it might be time to consider moving on.

3. Overworking

The problem of overworking is often misunderstood. There are many different types of overworking.

Some people just don’t want to take breaks.

Others feel pressured to produce results quickly. And others are pushed into working overtime because they are afraid of losing their jobs.

At least three-quarters of workers work overtime at least once a week. And 95% of employees feel pressured to overwork according to this article.

In some cases, there is no real reason why someone is being forced to work extra hours.

But in other situations, employers are exploiting workers.

And even though the practice might seem harmless, it can lead to serious health issues such as heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, depression, and anxiety.

Workers who are forced to work long hours without sufficient rest are putting themselves at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, stress, obesity, sleep disorders, depression, fatigue, headaches, migraines, neck pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and musculoskeletal injuries.

Not to mention the burnout they can feel.

This oftentimes leads to most not wanting to return to work and eventually leaving their jobs for a better work-life balance. 

4. Maternity/Paternity Exploitation

In many cases, the length of maternity and paternity leave is determined by the employment contract.

But even if the employer gives generous leave, the employee still faces financial penalties if he or she does not return to work within a certain period.

This is because most companies do not offer flexible working hours or part-time jobs.

Some employers require employees to use accrued leave to cover their absence.

Others deduct money from the salary of those who don’t return to work.

Inadequate maternity leave can cause increased anxiety and also an inability to perform at work.

Some people argue that the best way to ensure that new parents can spend quality time with their children is to provide ample paid leave.

They say that giving parents adequate time off allows them to bond with their babies and helps them recover physically and emotionally from childbirth.

Others say that paid leave encourages employers to hire less experienced workers willing to accept lower wages in exchange for more flexibility in their schedules.

This argument suggests that paid leave is unnecessary since employers could simply give new parents unpaid leave.

5. Appearance Based Exploitation

The pressure to conform to beauty standards is becoming increasingly widespread across industries.

In fact, according to a recent study by the American Psychological Association, almost half of all women feel that they are expected to meet unrealistic body image expectations.

This includes both men and women, but women are disproportionately impacted.

Women are often asked to change how they look, smile more, lose weight, and other ways to look more “attractive” to clients or shareholders. 

In particular, attractive women are often subject to several forms of discrimination, including sexual harassment, wage disparity, and even job loss due to bias.

However, another type of discrimination affects women far less frequently – perhaps more insidious because it does not necessarily involve overt harassment.

It is called “exploitation.”

This term refers to the use of physical attractiveness to exploit someone for personal gain.

For example, employers might use attractive workers as a way to attract customers, while coworkers might use attractive co-workers to boost their social status.

Both scenarios are examples of exploitation.

6. Sexual Harassment

The definition of sexual harassment is very broad.

It includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

This definition does not include offensive jokes, comments, gestures, or even touching.

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, whether directed toward one individual or many individuals.

It is not limited to actions occurring during working hours, nor is it limited to actions that occur within the confines of a single organization.

Sexual harassment occurs both inside and outside the workplace.

In some instances, the harasser works for the same employer as the victim.

In other instances, the harasser is employed by another entity, such as a subcontractor or vendor.

Regardless of where the harassment takes place, the fact that someone is being harassed is no excuse for engaging in the harassment.

Harassment is illegal regardless of who you are, your position, or how long you’ve been there.

7. Time Off Request and Breaks

If you’ve ever been told that you cannot take time off or ask for additional hours because you “need to keep up,” then chances are you might be working too much.

If you feel like you are constantly pressured to do more, there could be a good chance that you are being exploited.

According to experts, many companies use time-tracking software to monitor employees’ productivity.

This data is used to determine whether workers deserve raises or promotions.

However, some employers go beyond just monitoring time spent doing tasks; they require employees to record how long they spend away from their desks.

In fact, according to Glassdoor, nearly half of respondents said they had to clock out for lunch, and almost one in four reported having to clock in early or late.

This type of overwork is known as forced overtime, and it can cause serious health problems.

Workers who perform excessive amounts of unpaid labor are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, and stress.

In fact, making someone work off the clock is illegal.

They are also less productive during their regular shifts.

Forced overtime can lead to burnout, which can negatively impact employee performance and even lead to suicide.

8. Forced to do the Work of Others

You know how it goes.

You’re working hard at your job, and you’ve been putting in extra hours to make sure things run smoothly. 

Then one day, a coworker asks you to do something he could easily handle himself.

But no matter how many times you ask him to take care of it, he refuses. He says he doesn’t want to “waste his time.”

This scenario plays out every single day across the globe. People delegate tasks to others because they don’t feel like doing them themselves.

And while delegating to others is an effective strategy for getting ahead in the workplace, it must go both ways.

Not having predetermined responsibilities and workloads is a sign of a toxic workplace culture.

When your colleagues don’t reciprocate your efforts, you might be being taken advantage of.

If your coworkers dump their tedious, repetitive work on you but refuse help with their projects, then you are likely dealing with an imposter syndrome case. 

In fact, there is some evidence that suggests that humans have an implicit bias against those who look like they aren’t capable of doing what they claim to be able to do.

This is why it is important to remember that human beings are inherently biased.

Are You Being Exploited At Work?

According to this survey by Paychex, 77.4% of employees feel like they have been taken advantage of at some point.

They were asked to do work outside of their responsibilities, take advantage of while on time off, or PTO, and have to finish someone else’s work.

These can all lead to a hostile work environment.

So, why does this happen? Why do people feel so unappreciated at work? There are several reasons why this happens.

For starters, many companies use harsh tactics to keep costs down, including cutting corners on training and compensation.

Additionally, many employees lack the skills and knowledge needed to perform certain tasks, making them less likely to ask for help when they need it.

Finally, many workplaces fail to provide opportunities for growth and development.