Favoritism is a common occurrence, especially in a corporate setup. A boss may favor someone they’re more comfortable with or those who would not dare go against them over those who have the guts to point out their boss’ mistakes. As a result, they notice them more and praise their accomplishments especially if they’re someone they feel they can take advantage of, but refuse to acknowledge others who had also put in the work to finish a project or deadline.
When your boss gives biased praises and plays favorites, it becomes demoralizing and takes a toll on your career. You start to question yourself despite having put up years of experience in your field, questions like “Am I not good enough?”, “Have I wasted my time working for a company that refuses to acknowledge my worth?” so on and so forth.
Praising employees is a good way to motivate them and let them know they’re doing a great job and that the company appreciates them. However, most employers only choose to notice those they like or they feel they’ll get the most benefit from. Sometimes they only praise others because they feel like they have to in order to “motivate” their employees and appease them even though they don’t actually mean it. Whether they admit it or not, a lot of employers think that their employees are dispensable. They only see employees as someone paid to do what they’re told and follow requests no matter how unreasonable it may seem. It’s all about getting the job done whatever it may cost.
What happens if a boss gives biased praises or plays favorites?
1. Employers lose credibility
When a boss gives biased praises and starts to pick favorites according to who he finds most useful and disregard other team members who also put in the hard work, they slowly lose their employee’s trust. Employees will then feel neglected, start gossiping and think that their efforts will never be recognized no matter what they do.
2. Demotivated employees
As mentioned earlier, employees become demotivated. They’ll start questioning their capabilities and eventually become disengaged. They’ll refuse to be proactive and give out suggestions to help the company. In some cases, they might produce subpar work deliverables.
3. Toxic work culture
Favoritism may create a rift and start conflicts among team members resulting in a toxic working environment. The one being favored may get bullied, shunned, or worst-case, get physically assaulted.
4. Companies lose talent
Some employers or managers may not mind, thinking employees are replaceable, but losing an employee especially due to poor management will cost them more than their money. They’ll have to screen new suitable employees and spend time training qualified applicants every time someone quits.
What an employee can do.
1. Speak up
Speaking up may not always be the best option as some people may take it the wrong way and may become the reason that they’ll give you a hard time especially if they lack sympathy. However, if your boss is someone who is open to feedback and would not retaliate, then getting your voice heard is the best way to let them know exactly how you feel.
2. Improve yourself and get noticed
Do so not because you want to be in the same boat as the one being favored, but because you want to show them that you’re an asset in the company. Prove them wrong by improving yourself and keep doing a good job. Just because your boss favors someone else doesn’t mean you should be complacent. You might even be able to use the new skills you’ve learned when you decide to find a new job.
3. Toss emotions aside
People tend to become emotional in this type of situation. Take the high road and don’t let it get to you as you might do something you’d regret. You can vent out your frustrations to trusted individuals instead just so you can get it out of your chest. Throwing a fit won’t do you any good. So keep calm and think rationally about the next steps you should take.
4. Get a job elsewhere
When you’ve already done what you can and it seems like a lost cause, start finding a job elsewhere. Don’t continue wasting your time with a company that doesn’t appreciate your worth.
Final Thoughts
It’s in our nature to have preferences, but as a boss, one should stay neutral to avoid creating a toxic work environment. If you work for a boss who’s unbiased, appreciative, open to feedback without retaliation, and genuinely cares for their employees, then you’re one of the lucky few to land a job in such a company. But that’s not the case for most employees. It’s hard to find a company that has a great work culture that’s why most of the time they just settle with what’s available due to financial constraints. Favoritism especially at work is unfair and shouldn’t happen, but it does. So when it happens to you, take time to evaluate the situation and list down your options to know what to do.
Are you currently in this type of situation? What tips can you share with other fellow striving millennials or any employees out there? Feel free to leave a comment below.
