Most employees give a shot to be as accommodating as possible when it comes to requests from their bosses.
Some issues you may want to let play out and see how things progress.
Here are five scenarios where you should always say “no.”
iStockphoto
When They Are Abusing or Harassing You
Bullying in the workplace is a serious issue.
Never ever accept abuse, sexual harassment, or bullying as the status quo.
It is just not worth it.
If your boss continues to harass you, report it to a supervisor.
The key is that you do not allow yourself to be victimized by your boss.
They reward employees that step on others to get to the top and overlook their methods for getting there.
As a result, the entire workforce begins to feel likeexcluding others, name-calling, and evencyberbullyingare accepted practices.
If you see this throw in of activity in your workplace, refuse to participate.
Look for ways to stand up for the people being abused.
You also may be able to influence others to take the high road as well.
And no matter which way you go, the path will not be easy.
On the one hand, telling your boss “no” could get you fired.
But on the other hand, agreeing to the demands puts you, and possibly others, at risk.
That’s why it is imperative that you refuse to break the law.
Additionally, participating in illegal activities damages your reputation and makes finding future employment much more difficult.
confirm you say no to anything that requires you to break the law.
Most of the time, your boss will rescind their demands.
But standing up to a boss who asks you to do something unethical is a little trickier.
Most of the time, unethical bosses do not like to look at themselves in the mirror.
It may even get you fired.
But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stand up for what you believe in.
Have a conversation with your boss about your concerns.
But avoid making accusations or overreacting when you do discuss the subject.
Remember, your boss may not even realize that their request borders on being unethical.
Give them the opportunity to do the right thing before you take your concerns higher.
Remember, the consequences you will experience from doing something you disagree with will be steep.
Aside from the fact that it will negatively impact your business reputation, you also could experiencehealth issues.
When They Make Unreasonable Requests
Everyone has to work late sometimes.
And it is not uncommon for employees to work weekends.
But some bosses are extremely demanding and unreasonable and take these expectations to an extreme.
You may even feel like you no longer have your own life, and work is all you have.
What’s more, working for someone who is unpredictable and unreasonable can cause a number of health issues.
Never let the demands of anunreasonable bosssteal your health and your life.
Make it clear that you’ve given it serious thought, but be direct and honest.
And be sure to let your boss know immediately so they can assign the task to someone else.
A brief explanation is all that is needed.
It also can be scary.
But finding the courage to do so could make yourwork experience less miserable.
Research shows that pushing back may help bullied employees feel less victimized.
Fortunately, there are often ways that you could say no politely while still maintaining your professionalism.
This is why it is so important to learn how to decline requests while staying polite and professional.
it’s possible for you to say no to requests that are unreasonable or potentially criminal.
Workplace bullying is common,but many people don’t even recognize when their boss if bullying them.
Before you go to HR or another member of management, document the bullying incidents.
Write down what happened, when it happened, and who witnessed it.
2016;7:60. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00060
Killoren R.The toll of workplace bullying.Res Manag Rev.
2014;20(1).
Aquino K, Thau S.Workplace victimization: aggression from the target’s perspective.Annu Rev Psychol.
2015;68:723-758. doi:10.1111/peps.12094
Workplace Bullying Institute.2017 Workplace Bullying Institute U.S.