Would you expose your boss’s wrongdoings if you were treated unfairly?

In the comedy film Horrible Bosses starring Jason Bateman, we can all learn a thing or two about being mistreated in the workforce.

It’s not a topic we often talk about, but it’s something that we can’t ignore. Although this film is quite funny, it has some serious undertones that address the darker side of the workplace.

Bateman’s character, Nick, hates his boss for not giving him a promotion after the eight years he’s spent working for him. He thinks he’s done everything he can to deserve an office of his own but his high expectations are blown away when his evil boss, Mr. Harken (Kevin Spacey), takes the senior position that was intended for him.

Experiencing the same kind of trauma are two of Nick’s friends, Dale and Kurt, who have similar attitudes about their bosses. Conflicted by what to do, the three guys meet each other at a bar to discuss their misfortunes.

There they also meet an old friend of theirs, who recently quit his job and is in dire financial debt. That’s when they realize it’s better to be employed than not at all. However, they still start a revenge plot to get back at their bosses for making their lives miserable.

According to the film, here are some invaluable lessons to be learned:

1. Never arrive late to work. Get there two hours early and stay there for two extra hours.

In reality, you should always try to arrive to work at least 10-20 minutes early and leave work 10-20 minutes after the 5 o’clock mark to keep things organized.

You don’t want to constantly hit the door at 5:01 pm because it makes you look uninterested in your role. Employers need to feel you have ownership in what you do.

2. Say goodbye to your love life. You only have yourself.

In theory, your work is your life and you spend most of your time at work. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get out more and spend time with your friends and family.

It’s never good to be secluded from the rest of society so don’t work too hard all the time – learn to manage your work/life balance.

3. Drink a whole glass of scotch at 8:15 in the morning because your boss manipulated you.

If your boss has a habit of abusing their power - its not the kind of environment you want to thrive in. Try to keep up with your boss’s expectations but if they keep controlling you until your about to crack, maybe it’s time for you to find a new job.

4. Keep your job

Even if you hate your job today, don’t let your frustration get the best of you. You may not have any other choice but to work at your current position, so be grateful that you have a job.

Remember you still have to pay the bills! But if you are at this point already, it may be a good time to start building a job search strategy.

If worse comes to worse, seek a therapist about your situation. Perhaps you can find other ways to deal with your work-related stress before it becomes worse.

Although this film doesn’t suggest you to actually “kill” your boss to succeed in the workplace, it teaches us about self-discipline and workplace strategy.

So again I ask - would you expose your boss’s wrongdoings if you were treated unfairly?


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