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Find out why your boss might be hindering your career progress and what steps you can take to free yourself from their influence.
Are you struggling to advance at work? Does your boss, who should be supporting your career growth, feel more like an obstacle? While it may sound hard to believe, there’s a possibility your boss isn’t just ineffective—they could be intentionally sabotaging your career. Luckily, there are ways to protect yourself and escape the grip of a toxic boss. Read on to discover the warning signs of sabotage and understand the reasons behind your boss’s behavior.
Key Insights
- If you aren't receiving sufficient training or your boss treats you unfairly compared to others, they may be sabotaging you.
- Sabotage could also be evident if your boss undermines your authority or shifts the blame for their errors onto you.
- If you suspect sabotage, keep a record of your boss's actions and report them to HR or another manager.
Recommended Actions
What does workplace sabotage mean?
Workplace sabotage refers to actions that undermine your career progress. While sabotage is often associated with coworkers, it’s possible for your boss or supervisor to be the one pulling the strings. A boss may sabotage you because they didn’t want you hired in the first place, because they enjoy exerting control, or simply because they dislike you.
- If your boss is sabotaging you, it’s a sign of disrespect and likely stems from their own insecurities.
- Long-term sabotage can lead to a constant sense of fear and self-doubt at work, leaving you feeling unvalued and underappreciated.
Indicators of Sabotage
You’re not receiving proper training. Does your boss assign you tasks that you’re not trained for? Or perhaps they deliberately place you in challenging situations knowing you’re unprepared. This behavior is likely a sign they want to see you struggle or force you to rely on them for help. You might feel like you lack the skills or resources to succeed in your role.
You’re being treated unfairly compared to your colleagues. If you’re constantly singled out in a negative way, it could be a sign of sabotage. This might manifest in being passed over for promotions, receiving frequent criticism, or experiencing micromanagement while others are left alone.
- It may feel as though you’re always under surveillance, while your coworkers enjoy more freedom and trust.
You’re excluded from meetings or social events. Even if you're part of the team, you may not feel truly included. Your boss might schedule important meetings when you’re already occupied, or even relocate your workspace to a less central area. You may not receive invites to informal gatherings like happy hours or lunches. This exclusion can leave you feeling lonely, detached, and left out of the loop.
Your boss undermines your leadership. If you hold any kind of authority, your boss may constantly challenge your decisions. They might interrupt you in meetings or disregard your input altogether. They could also dismiss your suggestions, either publicly or privately, making you feel ineffective or unworthy of the role.
You’re blamed for your boss’s errors. A good leader takes responsibility for their own mistakes. However, if your boss is trying to sabotage you, they may shift the blame onto you—even when the fault isn’t entirely yours. They might even bring up old errors of yours to deflect attention from their own shortcomings. This can make you feel like the workplace scapegoat.
You’re set up for failure. It may feel like there’s always a crisis waiting for you when you show up at work. Your boss may assign you tasks that are clearly impossible to finish, knowing you’ll struggle. They might even be “too busy” to review your work, making it appear like you’re missing deadlines. This leaves you feeling frustrated, underappreciated, and perhaps even incompetent—though you're far from it.
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Your boss takes credit for your successes. We’ve all encountered someone who struggles to generate original ideas. What’s worse is when your boss claims credit for your accomplishments or insights. The absence of recognition and the disrespect that follows can make you feel helpless, invisible, and exploited.
Your boss avoids giving feedback. A strong leader provides guidance on both strengths and areas for improvement. However, a boss intent on seeing you fail will withhold feedback, hoping you'll continue making errors or veer off track. This can create a sense of doubt, stagnation, and worthlessness.
- On the flip side, some bosses can go to the extreme, constantly bombarding you with feedback, even when it’s excessive.
You’re assigned undesirable tasks. Perhaps you’re always the one stuck with the tedious work that should be shared equally, or you’re relegated to basic tasks despite having more experience. Your boss may be deliberately keeping you in a stagnant position, preventing you from advancing, which can lead to frustration, boredom, and feeling overlooked.
Your boss removes responsibilities from you. If your boss takes away your title or reduces your duties, it’s a clear message that they don’t value you. Stripping away your responsibilities may signal that your time at the company is running out, leaving you feeling anxious, unappreciated, and demoralized.
Your boss humiliates you in front of others. A good manager addresses issues privately and constructively. A boss who seeks to undermine you, however, might call you out in front of coworkers or even clients. Public humiliation is a form of bullying, and it will likely leave you feeling embarrassed, unsupported, and insulted.
Your boss badmouths you behind your back. Your boss may speak poorly of you not just to your coworkers, but also to upper management. This can damage your chances for promotions and ruin your reputation, leaving you feeling undervalued and disheartened.
You feel harassed. When a boss is actively trying to sabotage you, their behavior may cross into full-blown harassment. This could involve isolating you, making threats, gaslighting, or even displaying discriminatory behavior. The ongoing abuse can leave you feeling anxious, wounded, and afraid.
You’re constantly drained. If you're dealing with a toxic boss who's actively undermining you, it can take a massive toll on your energy. You might start to feel fatigued, unwell, or emotionally exhausted, even when you’re away from work.
What to Do If You’re Being Sabotaged
Keep a record of everything. If you have evidence of your boss’s actions, you're more likely to get them to stop. Save every email and message, and talk to any witnesses who have seen your boss mistreating you. Gather your documentation in case you need it when you’re ready to confront the issue or deal with an abusive boss. Learn more about how to handle an abusive boss.
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Talk to a manager or human resources. If your company has an HR department, that should be your first stop. If not, go to a manager or someone who oversees your boss. Gather all the evidence of what’s been happening and explain the situation in the hopes of finding a resolution.
- If you lack evidence, it might become a case of your word against theirs. Try to get coworkers who witnessed the behavior to vouch for you.
- If your superiors don’t take action, consulting a lawyer might be necessary. A lawyer can review your case and determine if you have substantial proof of your boss’s misconduct.
Request a transfer to a different department. You might want to escape your boss, but that doesn’t mean quitting your job entirely. Speak with HR or another supervisor about switching departments, ensuring that your boss is no longer in charge. This way, you can keep your position without enduring your boss’s toxic behavior any longer.
Take a break if needed. Dealing with a sabotaging boss is mentally draining, and you may find yourself exhausted. If you have PTO or vacation days, consider using them to rest and recharge.
- During your time off, consider seeing a therapist or counselor. Handling such a situation can be overwhelming, and seeking professional guidance can help you manage the stress and emotions.
- If time off isn’t an option, prioritize self-care before and after work. Engage in activities that help you relax, so you can return to work feeling more balanced.
Look for a new opportunity as a last resort. If transferring or taking action against your boss hasn’t improved the situation, it might be the entire workplace that’s the problem. Update your resume and start exploring other job opportunities. You deserve to work in a safe and supportive environment where you feel valued and respected.
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If your boss is making threats, it's important to seek legal advice. You may have grounds to take legal action against your boss and/or the company.
