FOR MORE GREAT STORIES, VISIT COSMO.IN AUGUST 2019 COSMOPOLITAN 103You’re sitting opposite
your manager in a meeting
room and are feeling well-
prepared and confident.
You’ve worked really hard
and hope that they’ve
noticed all your efforts.
Then your manager glosses
over your achievements
and points out the areas
where they think you’re
lagging behind. Surely
they’ve got it wrong?
What to do about it:
Don’t clam up straight
away. “First, tell yourself
that this person cares
enough about you to
give you feedback. Then
ask them for reasons,”
says Julie. If your boss
says they don’t think that
you are working hard
enough, ask for examples
and elaboration. If
you don’t agree, say
something like, ‘I
understand that but,
from my perspective, the
situation looks like this...
There seems to be a gap
between us—how can we
close it?’ By making it an
‘us’ conversation, rather
than ‘me versus you’,
you’re likely to get further.After working really
conscientiously on a team
project, you’re excited to
share your contribution
with your manager. That
is, until a colleague, who
put in much less time
and effort, blames their
blunder on you.
What to do about it:
“Try to see where the
colleague is coming
from—then ask them
about it directly,” suggests
Julie. They might have
done it because they’re
worried about their
own job. Make sure you
document the facts, just
in case you want to take
it further. Do they do
this sort of thing a lot?Was it a one-off mistake?
Ask a colleague you trust
(perhaps on another team)
for a second opinion—
they’ll be more detached
about the situation. Ask
them whether they think
you are overreacting
or should report it to
somebody. They may well
be your moral support if
you take it to HR or your
manager at a later date.You suspect that similar
positions in similar
companies would
pay more. And your
resentment is growing...
What to do about it:
Find out the salaries
for equivalent roles by
browsing websites such
as Glassdoor and Indeed.
You could also get hints
from a colleague (after
earning their trust)—
either by talking about
it directly or by showing
them a comparable job
description and asking
them to estimate what
they think it would pay.
Once you have some
evidence, speak to your
manager. “Have a direct
conversation with them,
saying that you’re aware
of a difference in your
pay and that you’d like to
understand why that might
be the case,” says Julie.
“If you’re unconvinced,
question their reasons.
Then ask HR for a
confidential conversation.
They can approach your
manager on behalf of the
company, rather than you,
to look at the calculationsbehind what you earn.”When you’re trapped in
an endless cycle of hustle,
grind and long hours, it
can be hard to recognise
the signs of burnout.
Feeling physically and
emotionally drained, and
suffering from insomnia
and poor concentration
can all be red flags.
What to do about it:
“Go to your manager and
explain that you feel you
can best serve the team
if you take a break,” says
Julie. “Point out all the
targets you’ve hit so far
and reassure them that
you’ll return to work with
more energy and perform
even better.” Approach
your boss knowing exactly
what you’re asking for,
whether it’s unpaid leave
or a holiday. Most places
don’t require employees
to produce a sick note for
one day off, but if you’d
like longer to recuperate,
read through your contract
to find out your rights.
Come prepared with the
dates you’d like to take off
and suggestions for people
who have agreed to cover
your workload. “This will
put you on the front foot.”
says Julie. “If your boss
says, ‘We’re too busy’, ask
yourself whether you’re
happy working in that sort
of culture. Your health
affects all aspects of your
life. You can love your
job, but your job will
never love you back.”
Consider whether it’s time
for a change. QThe Situation
IT’S YOUR PERFORMANCE
REVIEW...The Situation
YOU’VE BEEN
UNFAIRLY BLAMEDThe Situation
YOU FEEL UNDERPAIDThe Situation
YOU REALLY NEED
A BREAK