Struggling with Unofficial Work Hours and a Demanding Boss: What Should I Do Next?

Dear All Seniors,

I have been working for an organization for the past year and have been facing numerous challenges with my boss. In my organization, every employee is allowed to leave on time, but I constantly have to seek permission. Even after completing my working hours, I still have to seek my boss's permission daily. He is very clever; whenever I subtly message him, he immediately calls back and asks me to wait until very late at night. Many times, he does not respond to my messages, and I am frustrated with this pattern. Every weekend, I am expected to work for no apparent reason as per his demands. He insists that if I work on weekends, then I should also be available to work, as his work hours never seem to end and can go on until midnight.

Even during winter, I have had to stay in the office until very late in the evening. I have faced several issues due to getting home late, but unfortunately, no one seems to care. There is no cab facility, and when incidents occur, the response is always delayed with no one answering calls.

I am considering changing my job, but my resume shows frequent changes. Each change has a valid reason, never related to money or anything of the sort.

I am known as a hardworking employee, but recently, my boss threatened to take action against me for replying late to his calls on weekends. This is why I have resorted to using a mediator to respond, even though he introduced the mediator.

My boss mentioned that due to a Senior Manager, he is unable to take any action against me. Now, he is pressuring me to fill out my appraisal form, which I believe is unnecessary if I have a recommendation.

Please advise me on what steps I should take next.

Before I attempt to give you any advice, please tell me:

1. What does your organization do?
2. What is your role and responsibilities?
3. Does your boss have a boss of his own?
4. Does the organization have an HR Department/Manager?

Answers to the above will help me to give appropriate advice.

Regards,
Harsh

Dear Harsh, we do have an HR Department, which also includes the AVP HR. I am assisting the Head of SEA in the organization. Yes, he also has a boss—my boss is part of the top management team. It's an EPC Construction company.

Please advise on what I should do. Would changing organizations be a possible solution?

Could you please provide the country that you are working in? Most countries have a limit to the amount of overtime that is allowable per month or week, and also, most overtime has to be compensated, albeit for time off. Have you discussed this with your HR department?

This behavior is not uncommon, and it is highly unethical. Please provide me with a bit more information as above, and I can assist.

Regards,
Clare
[Email Removed For Privacy Reasons]

I am not afraid to call a spade a spade, but this is a classic case of exploitation. When others are leaving on time, why is he asking you to stay after working hours? I don't know when these people will realize that there is something called a private and family life. Yes, we do work for money, but what is the use of that money if we only work and work and sacrifice our social life?

The owners of the company can come to the office at any time and go home at any time. They can even work on weekends because, for them, the office is like a second home. Just because they work until late hours and work on weekends, they can't expect everyone to do that. I can understand staying late at the office for a few days, but if it happens frequently, it means something is wrong. If you complete work on time, no one should question you, and you do have the full right to leave on time. It is not written anywhere that you have to take the permission of your boss while leaving. In any city in India, it is not safe for ladies to travel during the night. Will the boss take responsibility if anything happens to the female staff in such a case?

Advice for Addressing Workplace Grievances

My advice would be to take the matter to the HR department and address your grievance. Make sure everything is written so that you can have proof.

The HR department should be in a position to solve this problem. If not, take the matter to the higher authorities. If the problem is still not solved, start searching for a new job where you will not face such problems. This is my opinion, and it may vary from person to person on this forum, and I respect that.

Don't worry; life doesn't end here. Nowadays, there are plenty of job opportunities. You will get a better offer than this company.

Totally agree with Mandy. Every employee has a right to leave the workplace on time. Your boss has no right to make you work late evenings regularly. You can address your grievances to the HR department in writing, and if you do not receive any satisfactory reply or action, you can start searching for a new job.

What do you think about your complaint/concern to the HR department? As you have mentioned that your boss is part of the Executive team, it may not work, considering that there is no one equivalent to your boss's grade working in the HR department. And again, if there is someone, that person should raise your concern accordingly. If you raise your concern to anyone outside your department and if the same is not acknowledged or welcomed, then this issue could turn into an ego issue.

Anyway, think wisely. If you are not able to adjust to your boss's nature and work atmosphere, then it is better that you look out for a change.