Of all the places where enforcing boundaries is non-negotiable, the workplace has to be at the top of the list. It is all too easy for employees to be exploited and mistreated without the protections of labor laws, HR policies, and some plain old backbone. Despite the deterrents that should be in place, it is amazing what some bosses will try to get away with when it comes to their relationship with those who work with them. They can take liberties that are unacceptable.

The problem is that sometimes it can feel difficult to stand up to these behaviors as an employee, even when you can recognize that they shouldn’t be happening. It creates a dilemma: is it worth pushing through the discomfort to keep the peace? The answer to this question is almost always a resounding no, particularly as this can allow a bad situation to escalate. Nonetheless, it can be difficult to deal with.