How to Know If You’re Undervalued at Work: 4 Telltale Signs

Discontent from work often stems from feeling undervalued. 

“Now is the winter of our discontent,” from Shakespeare's Richard III, basically means that the period of misery is over. Sounds good, right? So, how do you get over feeling discontent with work?

You have to start with why you feel that way. Spoiler alert: it often means you feel undervalued.

A big factor of feeling undervalued can often stem from a lack of advancement—which can breed resentment towards your boss. Often time we feel good at work when our boss recognizes our contributions and affirms we’re doing a good job, but if you’re overlooked or not taken seriously, it can be the catalyst for feeling undervalued. Here are some signs you might feel undervalued.

1. You’re Dismissed in Meetings: If your perspective or opinions in team meetings are passed over, first consider if you’re not communicating effectively. If that’s not the issue, ask follow-up questions to your coworkers to see if there’s something you missed or could be doing differently so that your ideas are acknowledged.

2. You’ve Checked Out of Your Job: If you’re not engaged at work, that’s often an early sign of being undervalued. We, as people, crave connection. We want to feel heard and validated. When that’s taken away, we disengage. Now you need to figure out if you feel this way because you’re undervalued.

3. You’re Being Micromanaged: If your role lacks autonomy, that’s a sign you’re undervalued. If your boss is monitoring you instead of managing you, that’s sign. To combat this, suggest to your manager, a new way of reporting to them that is just temporary to see if your output improves. By letting them know it’s just an experiment, they’ll likely be more open to the idea of them checking in less or them being a bottleneck in the project’s progress. 

4. You’re Underpaid: If your performance reviews are good and you’re pay raises don’t match, you’re undervalued. Let’s be honest, we work to get paid. Your career is what makes your life possible and being underpaid sets the bar lower for being paid in the future. If you suspect you’re in need of a raise or a promotion, do some research to understand what roles similar to yours are paid so you can have a data driven conversation with your manager to discuss a pay raise, change of title, or both.

If this sounds familiar it’s time to take action! You’re in charge of your own career growth.