9 Signs Your Boss Doesn't Respect You On a Personal Level

It’s easy to fear the worst of someone when that someone has control over your financial security and, in a lot of ways, your general sense of well-being.

In other words, a bad boss relationship is no small thing. Whether they’re an actively toxic manager or just simply don’t seem to care much for you, the spillover effects of these dynamics can be pretty extreme. Sometimes it can be hard to tell, though, where you stand with a manager — especially if they’re the hot-and-cold type. And if you’re left constantly guessing where you stand with this person, that’s its own form of workplace abuse. In short, you deserve to feel respected at work, especially by the person you’re reporting to.

Below, here are the signs that, at the end of the day, your boss really doesn’t have any respect for you. (The subtext being: these are the signs it might be time to find a new boss!)

1. They don’t respect your PTO.

An employer who respects you will also respect your right to unplug, and that goes not just for vacation time, but during after-work hours, too. If you have a boss who behaves as though they have the right to access you whenever they feel you’re needed, that’s a clear sign of disrespect. 

2. They don’t give you the resources or tools you need to be successful. 

If it feels like you’ve been set up to fail, that isn’t a normal or okay sensation. If your boss respects you as a worker and as a human being, they’ll want you to feel adequately set up and supported to do well in your job. 

3. They micromanage you. 

Sometimes, anxious or insecure bosses will feel the need to micromanage purely because of their own (misguided) approach to leadership, and not as a reflection on you. Other times, a boss who doesn’t respect you will let that lack of respect be known by insisting on surveying your work closely or being overly involved in your daily goings-on.

4. They don’t ask for your opinions, ideas or feedback.

And if you do offer any of the above, they don’t take it seriously.

A good employer — one who respects you — will make a regular practice of asking for your input. You’ll feel like your perspective is sought and is valued. If you don’t feel that way, and your boss makes a point of brushing off your attempts at sharing your thoughts, that’s a red flag they don’t respect you.

5. They intentionally keep you out of the loop.

It feels like you’re constantly having to find out about company news — even news that impacts your specific team — from other people. Your boss doesn’t make an effort to keep you filled in on the big picture, including by keeping you out of meetings that you could benefit from. 

6. They only meet with you when something’s wrong.

A boss who respects and values you will regularly meet with you, both to share their own constructive feedback and to give you the space to air your thoughts and ideas. If your boss asks to meet with you and your gut assumption is that it’s because you’ve done something wrong, that could be a sign they aren’t engaging enough with you ordinarily.

7. When you speak, their body language smacks of disrespect. 

If your boss lacks respect for you, that may be clear based on the negative facial expressions or loaded body language they use around you — say, a strategically timed eyeroll when you’re speaking. 

8. They talk over you in meetings. 

If your boss regularly interrupts you, it could be due to a lack of self-awareness on their part. It could also be a sign of disrespect for you, as they’re choosing to not even feign interest in the things you have to say.

9. They take credit for your work.