Top 13 signs that you’re not appreciated or valued at work
July 28, 2023
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Are you starting to question if you’re valued at your current job? Are you working if your hard work is enough to be appreciated at some point? You’ve come to the right place because I am going to share with you the Top 13 signs that you’re not appreciated or valued at work.
When you’re not appreciated or valued at work, it can take a toll on your mental health. Honestly, a lack of appreciation for employees is one of the telltale signs of a toxic company culture. If you want to know whether or not your work culture is toxic, check out the following articles.
Being appreciated and valued at work directly impacts your ability to perform, grow, and build positive relationships in the workplace. Remember, your contribution is needed and you are valuable. If you are not appreciated or valued at work, it may be time to move on.
Ready to learn about the top 13 signs that you’re not appreciated or valued at work? Here they are.
Signs you’re not appreciated or valued at work
Sign 1- You receive no gratitude or recognition
As humans, we thrive off of knowing that our work is appreciated and valued. Often we’re not expecting a big gift or formal recognition. Instead, a simple “thank you” or “you did a really great job” on this project goes a long way.
Why? Because it’s positive reinforcement which is something most of us have become accustomed to at a young age. It provides reassurance and also helps boost confidence in our own abilities. Gratitude and recognition tell us that we are on track, and meeting expectations, and also create the desire to want to continue moving forward.
Pay attention to how you are treated at work. If your supervisor or colleagues never acknowledge your efforts, you are not valued or appreciated at work.
Sign 2- Your ideas are ignored
Have you ever been in a meeting and got the courage to raise your hand to share your input? If so, was it ignored (i.e. no one called on you)?
Or
Have you ever shared your ideas, thoughts, or opinions at work only to have it ignored?
It takes courage to speak up and share what’s on your mind (so kudos to you for doing it). When bosses, colleagues, or board members choose to ignore your input without explanation, they are showing you that your opinion doesn’t matter to them.
Your voice is important and you deserve to be heard. Ignoring ideas is also a form of exclusion which is a red flag regarding how much the company values its employees.
Sign 3- You are often disrespected and belittled
Being disrespected and belittled on a regular basis is a clear sign that you are in a toxic work environment.
Name-calling, being yelled at, inappropriate jokes, and references are all a part of verbal abuse. If you stay in an environment like this for too long, it can take a toll on your emotional and mental health. If your leaders and colleagues can’t respect you, you are clearly not valued in the workplace.
Sign 4- You deal with constant nitpicking
If you often feel like “you’re never doing enough” and “you can’t get anything right,” it may be due to dealing with nitpicking.
If you’re doing your best and feel like your work is constantly being picked apart in your current role, this is a clear sign that your work is not respected or appreciated.
PRO-TIP: If constant nitpicking from your supervisor and colleagues is a recent new development, this could be a sign that you are being pushed out of your role. I suggest taking time to update your career networking documents (i.e. resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, etc.) so that you can easily dive into a job search if you need to.
Sign 5- You’re excluded from important meetings
Being involved in important meetings helps keep you informed of changes, new initiatives, and the status of current projects. Often these meetings heavily impact your role and help you do a good job. If you begin to notice that you are being excluded from important meetings, this is a sign that your voice, input, and thoughts are not valued or appreciated at work.
Sign 6- Information is being withheld
This is similar to being excluded from important meetings. If you don’t have the information needed to carry out your job and appropriately navigate conversations and relationships, this can also be seen as a form of sabotage.
If you have a difficult boss who refuses to provide you with all the information you need to produce good work, this will drastically impact your job performance.
PRO TIP: I recommend keeping documentation when you begin to notice that information is being withheld. Document your part to show your best efforts to get information and document the response (or lack of response) that you are getting from your boss or colleagues. You always want to keep a paper trail just in case someone tries to blame something on you.
Sign 7- Gossip plays a large role
If you find that the majority of your team (and even the supervisor) are gossiping about you, this is another sign of disrespect. Gossip has the power to not only damage your personal and professional reputation but also your self-esteem.
Being the victim of gossip is never ok and work environments that foster gossip suffer greatly. To learn how gossip and rumors affect the workplace, check out this article, Top 15 Effects of Rumors and Gossip in the Workplace.
Sign 8- You’re constantly compared to others
When giving your best efforts, the last thing you want to do is be compared to someone else. Constructive feedback is fine (and needed), but being compared to your colleagues can harm relationships and make you second-guess yourself.
A good boss is one that provides regular feedback, and shares expectations, and suggestions for improvement without comparing you to someone else.
PRO TIP: If you are a manager and notice that one of your team members is struggling while another is excelling in the same role, ask your star employee to provide mentorship or training. This way you are building a new relationship and helping out a struggling employee.
Sign 9- You haven’t received a raise… in awhile
When is the last time you got a pay raise? If you are putting in extra hours, taking on new projects, sharing innovative ideas, producing excellent work, and embracing new responsibilities, you should be getting some type of raise.
If you have not received a raise in the last 2 years, this speaks volumes to the level of appreciation and value that your employer has for you in the workplace.
I understand that not all workplaces can afford to provide hefty raises, but to show appreciation your employer should be providing additional perks and benefits to show their appreciation for a job well done.
At the end of the day, if they refuse to provide a raise, you can find a new career or better job that pays you the amount you want or need to make.
Sign 10- You get all the bad work assignments
If you are often on the receiving end of bad work assignments, this is a sign that your expertise is not valued, respected, or appreciated. Bad work assignments include undesirable projects, ones that others don’t want, and assignments that don’t help you grow or gain new skills.
For many professionals, doing important and challenging work provides a sense of purpose and when given dead-end tasks, it drastically decreases opportunities for career advancement.
If you are being given undesirable assignments, but still want to work for your company, the next step should be taking time to discuss your career goals and desires with your boss during your annual performance reviews.
If you have a difficult or toxic boss, it is probably time to move on and find an environment that is positive and healthy.
Sign 11- Lack of Support
Many professionals are working in roles with heavy workloads and unrealistic expectations from supervisors. If you find yourself in this situation and have asked for additional help and support and have not received it, this is a problem.
Too much work and a limited work-life balance can quickly lead to burnout, mental health issues, and emotional exhaustion. If you are not receiving help or support, it becomes clear that retaining you may not be a top priority.
I’ve witnessed (and experienced) organizations that are content with having roles that are high turnover due to the workload. If you find yourself in this situation, remember advocacy and self-care are key.
Sign 12- You don’t have a work-life balance
Quick reminder: you are a human, not a machine. Working professionals need breaks, balance, and opportunities for self-care.
If you are at a company that believes in “working around the clock,” this often means that they don’t value the people in the roles. Instead, they value the work output.
A positive work environment encourages employees to take time off, provides flexible work arrangements, and prioritizes mental health and taking the time needed to care for yourself and others.
Sign 13- You don’t get to work on new projects
A good job is one that challenges you, helps you gain new skills, provides regular feedback, and shares positive feedback during annual performance reviews.
When you’re not valued or appreciated at work, you’ll find yourself doing the same repetitive tasks and not receiving new challenges. This is damaging because it has the potential to negatively affect your chances of being considered for a promotion or growth opportunities.
Conclusion- Signs you’re not valued or appreciated at work
One of the worst feelings is realizing that you’re not appreciated or valued at work. If you found yourself identifying with a lot of these signs, I want to personally say, I’m sorry that you are going through this.
I also want to take the time to reassure you that there are better opportunities out there for you. You are fully capable of reaching your career goals and achieving the career growth you desire.
Most importantly, you are worthy of being respected, appreciated, and valued at work.
You bring a lot to the table and if your current employer isn’t acknowledging it, I promise you another one will. I genuinely hope this article helps you recognize the signs you’re not appreciated or valued at work.
Keep your head up.
You’ve got this.
If you’re ready to partner with a career coach to achieve your professional goals, I’d love to work with you! Fill out this form (Click here) to get started.
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