8 Valid Reasons to Report Your Boss, and How to Do It

In an ideal world, nothing bad would happen in the workplace—and if something did happen, it would be immediately reported and taken care of. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Negative things do happen in the workplace, and often those experiences come from the top—a.k.a. your boss.

However, many people are hesitant to report their boss for bad behavior. “No one wants to be in a dispute with their boss; it’s stressful, and employees may think they will not be able to win,” says employment attorney and workplace issues expert Peter Rahbar. As a result, workplace misconduct often is not reported. 

A 2023 Monster Poll on discrimination in the workplace found that only 44% of employees who experience or witness this form of misconduct at work feel comfortable reporting it to a company-provided anonymous reporting source. Meanwhile, 28% say they don't feel comfortable reporting at all.

But in some cases, reporting is the right move—and as an employee, it’s important to know both when to report and how to do so. Let’s take a look at these eight valid reasons to report your boss—and what steps to take in order to report them.

Is it OK to report your boss? 8 valid reasons to do so

If you're lucky, you’ll never work with a toxic boss. But statistics show it's likely to happen at least once in your career. Here are eight valid reasons to report them:

1. Your boss is breaking company policies or the law

One of the most common reasons to report your boss is if they are breaking the rules—or, in extreme cases, the law. This includes “violating company policies or engaging in criminal behavior, including fraud or embezzlement,” says Sophie Bryan, founder and chief workplace culture consultant at Ordinarily Different.

Sometimes, this is clear cut. For example, if you know your boss is embezzling money, that’s a clear violation of the law. Or, if you have a corporate policy against dating a direct report—and you know for a fact that your boss is dating the new hire on your team—that’s a clear violation of the policy.

Other times, breaking rules or laws is more ambiguous. If you’re unsure whether your boss is out of line, consider the impact of their actions. “If your boss is making decisions that may put the safety of their employees or the public at risk, whether emotionally or physically, it is probably a good idea to report this to people that can pursue any needed disciplinary actions,” Bryan says.

2. Your boss harasses or discriminates you or someone else

As mentioned, when your boss is breaking the law, it’s important to report it—and one of the most common ways bosses break the law? Harassing or discriminating against employees. “Harassment and discrimination are prohibited by law and should not be occurring in the workplace,” Rahbar says.

Though Monster's report shows that employees are hesitant to report, harassment and discrimination can’t be dealt with if no one knows about it. “If you feel that your boss is harassing or discriminating against you because of your race, gender or other protected category, it is very important that this conduct be reported and addressed by the company,” Rahbar says.

This is also a situation where you might consider contacting a lawyer. “Before reporting harassment or discrimination, understand the coverage of applicable laws and company policies,” he says. “I also strongly suggest contacting a lawyer before or immediately after filing a complaint with the company regarding such behavior.”

3. Your boss has toxic behaviors (like in verbally abusive)

Does your boss regularly yell at you? Do they hurl insults at you and your team members each day? Do they gaslight, manipulate, or make it a point to embarrass direct reports in front of other people? If so, you could be dealing with a toxic boss.

“Many of us have read about or experienced toxic behavior in the workplace,” Rahbar says. “This could include many types of behavior that are not necessarily prohibited by law, but are demoralizing, distressing, and unwelcome for many employees.” 

Toxic management isn’t just hard on employees; it also has an organizational impact. So not only is it in your best interest to report a toxic boss, but it’s also in the company’s best interest. “Toxic management behaviors are always unproductive and will inevitably lead to lower productivity, employee satisfaction, and employee retention,” he says—so if you’re dealing with a toxic boss, report it.

Read this next: Are You Working With a Bully for a Boss? Deal With It the Healthy Way With These 7 Methods

4. Your boss is undermining or sabotaging your work

You’re responsible for your own success. But as your manager, your boss is also responsible for setting you up for success—and if they’re not, it might warrant taking the issue to HR. “Employees take their career development seriously, and so should managers,” Rahbar says. 

For example, if your boss isn’t giving you feedback—despite repeated requests—but is citing poor performance? They’re not giving you what you need to succeed in your role—and you may have to file a complaint in order to get the feedback you need to be successful.

Or let’s say that, despite repeated requests, your boss refuses to train you on the core competencies of your job. In that situation, the only way to get the training you need to succeed in your role might be to bring the issue to HR’s attention. 

The point is, your boss needs to fulfill their obligations as your superior in order for you to be successful—and if they’re not giving you those things, you might need to report them.

Read this next: How to Deal With a Boss Who Undermines You

5. You’ve tried talking to your boss, but they're not listening

While there are absolutely situations where reporting your boss should be the first plan of action (for example, if your boss is harassing you or creating an unsafe work environment), there are other, less serious situations where a simple conversation with them could be an effective way to solve the problem. But if you’ve already had that conversation with your boss—not once, not twice, but many times? It may be time to escalate the issue. 

You may want to report your boss if they’re “not addressing or taking necessary actions from staff complaints,” Bryan says. Why? If the boss isn’t willing to listen and make changes based on your conversations and feedback, reporting them—and having that feedback come from their supervisor—may be the only way to drive change.

6. Your boss is failing to ensure a safe work environment

If your line of work requires specific equipment to ensure employee safety (such as in healthcare or construction) and your boss is failing to provide it, you have the right to file a report. In the U.S., various federal agencies regulate safety issues in different industries. Here's who to contact:

• Aviation: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

• Interstate trucking: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

• Mining: Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)

• All other occupations: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Additionally, you can contact your state's department of labor, as they enforce workplace safety laws. For further guidance, refer to the labor laws section of the federal government site. OSHA also provides a safety management guide to help both employers and employees identify and assess hazards.

7. Your boss is breaching your work contract

Work contracts are a two-way street. The employer expects you to perform certain tasks for a set number of hours each week or month, and in return, they offer you a compensation package (and possibly other perks). If either party fails to honor their responsibilities, there are consequences.

For example, if you're promised commissions or bonuses based on hitting a certain sales goal or working a specific number of hours, but after meeting those conditions, you're denied or payments are delayed indefinitely, this constitutes a breach of contract. You don't necessarily need to file a complaint right away if you believe the contract will eventually be honored. But if it continues to be ignored, reporting the issue is the first step to resolving it.

It may also be helpful to consult an employment attorney for specialized guidance—especially if the case could end up in court. For instance, if it's a financial matter, HR might not be the best resource, as they may not have control over cash flow. This also applies to earned vacation, sick, or medical leave, which you may be entitled to under your contract or state laws.

8. Your boss is retaliating against you for legally protected activities

If you've made it this far, you know that as a worker, you have the right to report your boss or company in certain situations—and to exercise other rights, such as taking legally protected medical leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), if you qualify. 

Your boss cannot retaliate against you for exercising those rights. Retaliation can take many forms, such as an unjustified demotion, pay cut, or sudden negative performance review. If this happens, it warrants a complaint—and in some cases, even a lawsuit. However, as mentioned earlier, these situations can be tricky and difficult to prove, so consulting an employment attorney is always a good idea.

How to report your boss

You now know valid reasons to report your boss—great. But how do you actually do it? Let’s jump into what steps you should take if you find yourself in a situation where you need to report them.

Get an outside opinion

Sometimes when you’re in a situation, it can be hard to see what’s really going on. Which is why, before you report your boss, you may want to consider “talking to someone you trust about the problem for a reality check,” Rahbar says. 

Talking to a trusted third-party (like a trusted coworker, friend, or family member) can help you gain insight into the situation. For example, “Are you seeing the problem clearly? Is it as serious—or more serious—than you think? Should you go straight to a lawyer or HR? These are all questions that you may not be able to answer clearly as someone who is in the middle of an obviously difficult work situation,” Rahbar says. “Seeking a trusted second opinion before initiating a serious complaint process is essential.”

Document everything

If you do decide to move forward with reporting your boss, it’s important to keep a record of everything. “If you believe there is a problem brewing, you should make sure to document it as it is occurring, including maintaining emails, messages, texts, and taking notes of relevant conversations,” Rahbar says.

Having clear documentation of the issue will help you back up your case to your human resources department—or, in more serious situations, to external parties, like law enforcement.

Review your company policies

There’s no universal procedure for reporting your boss. Instead, if you need to file a complaint, you’ll need to review your organization’s specific policies and procedures to know how to move forward. “I also suggest reviewing your company’s policies, which can help you to become familiar with and prepare for reporting incidents,” Bryan says. 

“Some companies have policies that regulate conduct beyond what the law requires them to do. This may work to an employee’s advantage,” Rahbar says. “You may also be interviewed, which requires preparation—and you should understand all of this before you initiate a complaint.”

If you’re not sure what your company’s policies are, talk to HR and ask them the procedure for filing a complaint or report. They should be able to walk you through the process, ensure that your report is filed correctly, and with the right person or team.

Keep your complaint strictly professional

When you’re reporting your boss for some kind of misconduct, emotions can be running high. However, no matter how upset you are, don't make it personal. “The main thing to remember is that you should always remain professional throughout the process,” Bryan says. 

This means sticking to their professional wrong doings, and only it. “It can be difficult, but try not to let your emotions get the better of you and refrain from launching personal attacks during the reporting process which might damage your credibility,” she says. “Instead, focus only on the facts and the behaviors you experienced.”

What to do after you report your boss

Once you’ve filed the report, your organization should take the steps necessary to deal with your boss. This could be taking disciplinary action, investing in more training—or, in extreme cases, terminating them.

But the process isn’t necessarily done when you file the report. There are some additional steps you’ll want to keep in mind after filing—starting with knowing your rights, in case you need to assert them. “In some cases there may be moments where you experience backlash due to reporting an incident, so a familiarity with your rights is incremental to protecting yourself and others,” Bryan says.

Make sure you understand your rights, including any relevant anti-retaliation laws and/or whistle-blower protections. That way, if you have to deal with retaliation, for example, you’ll know what steps to take to protect yourself.

In the case of criminal or discriminatory behavior, you should consider (and be prepared to) take the issue outside of the organization. “If necessary, you may need to report an incident to external options, like a legal representation or government agency,” Bryan says.

FAQs

Can you go to HR for micromanaging?

That depends—disliking your manager's work style is one thing, but if their work style is actively harming your performance, it’s another. Before going to HR, make sure there’s a genuine professional issue, not just a personal preference.

Read this next: How To Turn A Micromanaging Boss Into Your Champion

Is it OK to rant to your boss?

Generally, no, it’s not a good idea. Instead, take some time to gather your thoughts on what’s bothering you in your work dynamic and schedule a one-on-one meeting to discuss it. Be sure to document any relevant issues to support your concerns. In other words, keep it professional.

What should you not say to HR?

If you're going to HR to file a complaint against your boss (or even a coworker), avoid making personal attacks or badmouthing them. Instead, focus on the professional aspects of your relationship that aren't working—preferably things you can support with messages, emails, or other documentation.

Laura Berlinsky-Schine contributed to the original version of this article. Amanda Cardoso contributed to the latest version of this article.