Work at home moms, or WAHMs for short, have hectic days. Not only do they need to stay professional and productive in their careers, but they also have responsibilities in their role as a mother. As if managing a business wasn’t stressful enough, you also need to look after your baby – at the same time! The truth is that without a little help, you can’t cope. There is too much to do! Babies require constant attention, and for new mothers, it can be tricky to figure out the right balance of work and motherhood. Besides, without preliminary experience, how are you to know what your baby needs and wants? But don’t worry. You’re not on your own.

Help, my baby is crying!

#1. You need a stain-resistant flooring solution

Don’t believe movies that depict babies are the sweetest and most gorgeous little creatures. Of course, you love your baby more than anything else in the world. But if there’s one thing that movies always get wrong is the fact that nothing stays spotless and pretty with a young baby. Indeed, your baby is going to spit milk – which is the equivalent of vomiting – despite your best efforts to get the infamous digestive burp. Babies move a lot, and you’ll soon notice that they can be incredibly wiggly when you’re trying to get them dressed or to change their nappies. In short, your carpet will go through a lot. If you don’t want to worry about removing new stains every day, you should consider appropriate flooring solutions, such as a stain-free carpet https://carpettogo.com/2016/08/5-best-carpet-brands-homeowners/, for instance. Tiles and hardwood floors are also elegant alternatives.

#2 What is my child doing?

You can’t work with your baby in the home office, especially if you want to be able to take calls peacefully. So there is a moment when you’re getting on with your tasks while the house is quiet. Every mother needs to check on her child, especially when she can’t hear what is going on. But you can’t realistically manage a business if you spend most of the time running into the nursery room. That’s where you need a smart wireless system that lets you monitor your baby without leaving the room.

#3. How am I going to keep track of everything?

When was the last time you fed your baby? Did you remember to buy new nappies? If you don’t know, you’re not on your own. Hundreds of mommies struggle to keep track of everything. But you can find listing and tracking apps such as these https://www.lifewire.com/best-apps-for-moms-3129162 to make sure you’ve got your day sorted. It’s a good idea as well to use lists for recurring tasks so that you can tick each feeding time. More importantly, it avoids the typical baby brain, which can lead to forgetfulness!

#4. A support group on call

Last but not least, a mommy needs emotional support. It’s never easy to deal with a new situation, and having a baby is an emotional roller coaster. But if you’ve joined a prenatal group, you can stay in touch with other mothers and discuss your issues or exchange tips. You can even find supportive communities on your favorite social media platforms.

The thing about motherhood is that it’s a challenge of every day. There will be good times, and there will be hard times. But making your life easier with simple tricks can help you to handle the harder days better.

Summer is finally rocking up in style, and it’s the time for grilling and gardening to happen in abundance. Most people love the longer evenings and the time spent outdoors, but not everyone loves the house prep that has to happen as the summer draws in. After a long winter and spring, giving your house a much-needed look over and some TLC is so refreshing. So, it’s time to open the windows up and get the patio set out of the garage ready for some outdoor use. It’s also time to complete some maintenance to your home to ensure that the summer can be truly enjoyed. Let’s take a look at some of the essential jobs that you need to complete around the house before the summer sunshine truly starts warming up the place.

Image Source

Water Damage Prevention

If you’re living in a place where there are torrential rain and thunderstorms forecasted practically every single week, you need to consider protecting the house from water damage. This starts with the foundation of the house from the basement up. Check the basement for leaks and cracks, and make sure that the drains near your house foundations are cleared and not blocked up. If you have dirt leading toward your house, you need to worry about water running to the house, too. Getting in the roofers to check the gutters is also essential for drainage; you don’t want to have a blockage to deal with that leads to a roof leak, too. Windows and doors should be scrutinized for cracks and leaks, and you should consider the caulk around the edge and ensure that it’s tight enough to keep the water out.

Check The HVAC

The HVAC system in your house needs as much a checkup as the rest of the house does. The air filters need to be updated, and the debris from the unit outside also needs to be cleared. If you haven’t cleared the outdoor unit before, get in the professionals to help you with that, too. The HVAC provides you with the clean air conditioning you need to be able to feel comfortable inside your house when the sun is out and beating down on you. It’s served you well through the winter months as your heating system, so you need it to work for you through the summer so that you can be comfortable!

Touch Up The Paintwork

Paint on a house is never just to make it look nice – although it does have its benefits. House paint can also protect the house from the natural elements outside. When the paint is peeling, it doesn’t just look ugly; it prevents your home from being exposed to the possibility of rot or mold. It’s so much easier to keep up with these issues when you keep touching up the paint throughout the year. This way, you don’t have to spend thousands in repairs trying to get the house done all in one go. The paintwork can, of course, help your house to look beautiful. The right colour elements in your house paint will give your home the refreshed look that you need to brighten the entire summer.

Trim The Trees!

A tree surgeon can be an excellent investment for you when you have trees and bushes on your property that need to be cut back. The shrubbery and greenery in your gardens need to be safe and not a danger for your family or anyone else, so cut back the shrubs or trees that touch your house. Time makes these rub against the paintwork and the house pipework, which can cause a lot of damage that can be costly.

Fix The Deck

Enjoying the outdoors is rather the point of summertime, and when the sun is shining the one place you want to be is out on the deck enjoying the view. Protecting the wood on your deck is going to be the best thing that you can do. Seal the deck with an excellent wood stain, sealant or even paint to ensure that it lasts for some time. Use a power washer to remove all the built-up grit and grime from the winter months, and do this before you apply any sealant to the deck. Otherwise, the sealant won’t adhere to the wood, and you’ll be left with a deck that’s exposed, and it won’t be protected against the elements. Neglecting your deck will mean that you won’t have the space that lasts you in the way that you think.

No More Pests

How much of your attic are you acquainted with? Bugs and other rodents are always moving in when the weather is cold. Preventing them from getting into your house is essential if you want to make sure you don’t end up with wood that’s been eaten away, or insulation that has been turned into a nest. Checking the caulk can help you to keep the smaller bugs out, with the interior of your house being sprayed to leave out the bugs as much as possible.

Image Source

Summer is supposed to be a season of fun, and the last thing that you should have to do is keep on top of a bunch of maintenance jobs that will take you away from the sunshine and into the heat of working the house instead. Staying on top of the summer jobs listed above is so important if you want to have the summer of fun that you have been daydreaming about. A few weeks of maintenance as the spring ends and summer begins can make a big difference to how much money you save on your home, and it can save you a summer of a house in disrepair.

Make your home the best possible place to be this summer season, and you’re going to be putting your feet up and soaking up the rays!

Image

These days saving money has become a fine art, because we have to be so tight with our spendings. And when we have so many different areas of life pulling us in numerous directions, the idea of owning a little bit more money is very appealing, but seemingly impossible. When we’re a busy mother, and we’ve got to look after the kids, as well as ensure that they are growing up healthy and happy, earning money on the side becomes a very low priority. But how can we start to do this without it affecting our parental abilities?

Scour The Freelance Pages

The gig economy and the rise of freelance workers has highlighted one thing, that you can almost pick and choose when you want to work. At least for the perspective of a busy mother, if there’s a gap in your calendar that can be filled with a quick freelance job you are monetizing your spare time as effectively as you can. Time is limited, so if you look at the various freelance websites out there, and make the most of the skills you have, even though it’s not a regular game, it gives you a sneak preview of what freelancing is really like. It’s a feast or a famine kind of existence, but when you’re looking after your kids, it can be a great way to have a little bit of extra pocket money.

Start A Small Side Hustle

Side hustles are useful because you can scale them up as much as time allows you. There’s some information on https://sidehustleschool.com to get you started, but for the busy mothers out there a side hustle can be a double-edged sword. Because it is, in effect, running your own business, you have to give it the time it deserves so you can earn a decent wage. And if it’s the least of your priorities, it may take some time to take off. This is why it’s best for you to start as minuscule as possible.

Sell Some Things

And when times are tough, money is fleeting, and you’ve got a lot of junk to sell, this is the best way to dip your toe into the idea of earning money on the side. If you are able to sell a few things quickly and effortlessly, you can step it up further and then open up an Amazon seller account, there’s more information about this on www.brockrjohnson.com. While selling items by yourself can be a long-winded approach, with affiliate sellers a lot of the work can be done by them. But, don’t underestimate this, you’ve still got to put in the time. When you are a busy parent, the real truth of the matter is, if you want to earn some money on the side, you’ve got to make some time for this. If it’s something you have a passion for, you will automatically invest more time and effort into it. But when you’re desperate for money, you don’t have to necessarily get a job. These options give you the opportunity to work from home.

If you’re looking for a new career that will help you to give something back to society and make your local community a safer place for the kids; you might think about joining the Police Force and becoming a Law Enforcement Officer. It’s a big step, and the job is not suitable for every mother out there. However, if you’re sick and tired of hearing about crime in your local area, and you want to improve the situation before the next generation matures; the career move could be the best option on the table. With that in mind, let’s take a look at all the benefits.

Link

You will make your community safer

There are lots of excellent jobs available for working moms. However, the most important benefit of becoming a Police Officer is that you will help to make your local community safer for every family. Kids will be able to play outside without their parents getting worried if they know you are around. Also, you can help to catch some of the criminals who have plagued your society for years. You might even encourage other local mothers to walk the same path, and so you could completely revolutionize the way in which policing happens in your hometown. If you don’t consider becoming a Police Officer for any other reason; that should help to convince you.

You will become an excellent role model

All mothers should want to set a positive example for their children. The last thing you want is for your little ones to grow up and join a gang or something similar. They would put their lives at risk alongside the lives of many others. If the children see you as a Police Officer all their lives; there is a chance some of your career goals will rub off on them. Who knows? Maybe your kids will end up signing up for the Police Force too? Perhaps they will go a step further and get a degree in criminology? More about that in the next section!

Link

You can continue to educate yourself  

While working for the Police Force will bring many benefits and opportunities; it is vital that you don’t overlook the fact that you can often continue education. There are lots of specialist colleges and online learning companies that provide education for Police Officers. So, you could contact them at any time and pay for some classes in the hope of gaining new qualifications and progressing within your career. You might even convince the Police Force to pay the bill.

As you can see from the information on this page, there are lots of advantages to becoming a Police Officer in your local community. It is something more mothers should consider because females tend to take a more compassionate and rational approach to criminals. For that reason, you might manage to lower the number of incidents in which Law Enforcement gets into conflicts with young people in your town. Sometimes all those kids need is a stern talking-to and a lift home to their parents. You will take a less heavy-handed approach, and that should benefit everyone.

Choosing to be a working mom is far from an easy decision, but most would agree that the benefits far outweigh the difficulties. After all, despite wanting to spend as much time with your little one as you can, you know that the occasional break is vital for your sanity. Plus, children are expensive, so the extra income will really come in handy. To make this process easier, you need to choose the perfect job, so here are six options for you to consider.

Sales Assistant

Every parent needs to get away for a little while, and working as a sales assistant could be the perfect way for you to do this. Unfortunately, the pay isn’t the best, but the few hours away from home will be absolutely priceless and most stores do offer a small staff discount. This is also a relatively flexible option that you could easily fit around your home life and regular schedule.

Professional Business Woman Women Office Work

Source

Small Business Owner

Whether you know it or not, everyone has a talent that they can make money from. For you, it could be your artistic side, your fondness for baking, or even your passion for writing and blogging. Starting a small business isn’t always easy, but, if you’re willing to work hard, then it is something that you can do from home. As you set your own hours, it’s also incredibly flexible.

School Teacher

If you’re like most parents and hate heading off to work when you’re children are at home, then consider becoming a teacher. This way, you’ll have roughly the same hours as your kids and will also get the school holidays off. Unfortunately, you will need a teaching qualification and may have to complete further education, like a masters in reading, but the work will all be worth it.

Ring Bracelet Woman Watch People Accessories Time

Source

Ridesharing Driver

When you spend a lot of your time driving your kids, friends, and family around, you can start to feel like a personal chauffeur. That being said, you don’t have the paycheck to match. If you did want this, however, you could sign up to a ridesharing site, like Lyft or Uber. This way, you can choose your hours and journeys and can drive paying customers around whenever you want to.

Real Estate Agent

More often than not, real estate agents set their own schedules, but generally, they do have to be available on evenings and weekends. This is perfect if your partner works a nine to five job, as it would mean that you don’t have to leave your kids with a sitter. Although this career does require qualifications and certifications, it offers competitive pay and can fit around your home life.

Source

Makeup Artist

Beauty will probably never disappear, which means that there will always be a demand for makeup artists and hairdressers. Depending on your wants and needs, you could complete either of these jobs from a salon or your home. You can also set your own hours and choose to specialize in weddings and other formal events, which would provide you with even more freedom.  

Being a working mom can be a challenge, but choosing any one of these jobs or careers could make it a lot easier for you.

Do you feel like you could be a little more productive at work, or just in your everyday life? You’re not alone. Procrastination is a huge problem these days, especially because there are so many distractions around us 24/7. However, there are ways you can take control and get more work done than ever before. Take a look at some of these suggestions and see how they help you:

Schedule Your Day The Night Before

Don’t just get up in the morning with a rough idea of what you’re going to do but no actual plan as to what order you’ll do stuff in. Scheduling your day the night before and giving yourself time limits and time slots to stick to will help you to get more done.

Work in 30 Minute Sections

If you struggle to motivate yourself, you can use something called the ‘pomodoro technique’. This technique allows people to work in 30 minute time blocks using a timer, after which they can have a 5-10 minute break. If you keep setting this timer for yourself, you should be able to stay focused far easier than if you were to just sit and work for a full two hours, for example. That being said, if you have things to do that take you a while to get into the flow, you might want to set the timer for a little longer.

Block Sites You Frequently Visit On Your Computer

If you’re constantly on Facebook or shopping on your favorite store, you need to block them on your computer so you can get more done. There are lots of add ons you can use to do this. You can set it to work during a certain time, so for example, you can’t visit Facebook from 8-1 during the day. Use this time to get the most of your work done.

Stay Away From Emails

Emails are a huge productivity killer, and people tend to visit them first thing in the morning. Big mistake! Staying away from them will help you to get more done – check them later on when you’ve already made some progress.

picture

Brush Up On Your Skills

The best workers always brush up on their skills to make sure their knowledge is fresh and that they are doing things to the best of their abilities. Don’t allow your skills to go stale – places like Ej4.com offer a number of courses, including team building courses that could be beneficial for a number of businesses.

Get Up Super Early

If you have a lot to do, getting up super early will help you to accomplish it. Providing you adjust your bed time accordingly, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue. The most productive people tend to get out of bed between 5.30-6.30. Try it and you’ll have some of your most productive hours at this time.

Exercise

Whether you do 30 minutes of yoga in the morning or go for a quick run doesn’t matter. You’ll get your blood pumping and those endorphins going, which will make you more productive for the rest of the day.

Image Source

For many people, the idea of having to spend all of their time sitting at a desk in a stuffy office working for someone else is just about the most unbearable thing in the world. Of course, for the longest time, many people simply didn’t have a choice in the matter. However, over the last decade, more and more people are turning to the internet as an alternative. Not only can many online careers like blogging allow you to work for yourself, but you can do so from the comfort of your own home. Sounds perfect right? Well, the truth is that there are a lot of challenges involved in this kind of career that you really need to be ready for. With that in mind, here are some things that you need to keep in mind if you want to start working for yourself online.

Making your website stand out

If you’re going to start working online, the first thing you need is a website. Of course, that probably won’t come as much of a shock to anyone considering this type of career path. However, just “having a website” simply isn’t good enough. If you want your online business to get noticed then your web design has to be good enough to stand out from the crowd. This means everything from your branding to the way in which people navigate through your website has to be as high quality as possible. Working with professional designers is usually the best way to make it the best it can be.

Using social media

Getting your name out there on the internet can often be the biggest challenge. After all, there are so many other people doing the same thing as you that being able to stand out can often seem impossible. The best thing that you can do is leverage your social media accounts for all they’re worth. Connect with potential clients and customers directly and create a sense of community by collaborating with other people. The “social” side of social media is one of the most valuable tools in your arsenal.

Creating valuable content

The world of the internet is one that is ruled by content. If you’re not creating valuable content that people want to engage with, then you’re never going to get anywhere. This means that you need things like blog posts to be as entertaining as possible and, ideally, the kinds of things that people will want to share with their friends and family on sites like Facebook and Twitter.

None of this is intended to somehow discourage you from working for yourself. Rather, it’s there to stop you from coming up against any nasty surprises if you do decide to take that career path. If any of the things on this list, as well as many of the other challenges of working for yourself online, seem as though they’re too difficult to get past, at least you know that it’s not the right career for you before giving up on what you’re currently doing.

If you’ve decided to join the many other moms who have taken a leap of faith and chosen to quit their nine till five jobs and launched a business of their own, then you are most probably wondering what field to go into.

When it comes to choosing a business type to launch, there’s a lot that needs to be taken into account, which is why it’s so important to choose the industry that you go into carefully. You want to choose an industry that not only has fantastic potential for success, but that is also linked to one of your interests. Because, as various studies have shown, when it comes to succeeding in business, being passionate about the business that you run is crucial to your success.

A popular industry to go into is property. This is because the opportunities that come with this sector are vast and varied, making it a great option for people with all manner of interests and hobbies. Whether you have an eye for design, are crazy about interiors, or love building communities, property investment could be a great option to go into.

Does the idea of working in property appeal to you? If the answer is yes, then you may want to take note of the business ideas below that relate to property in one way or another, and have fantastic potential for success.

Photo source

Offer a property staging service

Do you have an eye for design? When you walk into a property, do you imagine how you would change the space to make more of it? If the answer to both of these questions is yes, then perhaps you should consider offering a property staging service. Wondering what property staging is? Property staging is a service that can help to make properties more sellable by making them more appealing to potential buyers.

When a property isn’t selling as quickly as the owners hoped it would, or a fast sale is required, often a staging service is used to create a space that is more appealing. If you’ve got an eye for design and neutral style, this could be a fantastic business concept for you – launching a property staging service. This is a business that would not only be simple to start, but also that would have high success rates, especially if you tap into the luxury market and build up a strong customer base within the local community. They say that word of mouth marketing is the best form of marketing, and in these kinds of industries, this is the case, which is why building a strong local customer base is so vital.

Invest in property to do up and sell on

Property flipping has been highly publicized by various high-profile TV programs over the past few years, which has made it an even more popular property-related business choice. If you are someone with a passion for DIY, then property flipping – where you purchase an old, distressed home on the cheap, do it up and sell it on for a profit – could be the perfect business opportunity for you. While flipping property doesn’t offer the long-term income that buy-to-let properties do, what it does offer is a good profit that can be split in two: one half as profit and the other half to be put into buying another property to do the same thing with. Over time, this process will allow you to make a good income from doing up and flipping properties, building on your profits each time.

Of course, the downside to this kind of business is the fact that you need a large sum of money to start off with. As if you are going to be able to invest in a property (even cheap property) to do up and flip, you need a large budget to start out with. After all, there’s not just the cost of the property to think about, but also the cost of the materials and labor for doing the property up. Of course, if you don’t have adequate funds available, you can always opt to take out a bank loan or bring a financial investor on board.

Image credit

Do real estate photography  

Do you have an eye for photography? If you’ve always been passionate about photography, then perhaps working in real estate photography could be a good move to make. Most real estate companies charge incredibly high prices for real estate photography, whereas you can offer a more affordable but just as high-quality service. Do this, and you are sure to get plenty of clients, after all everyone loves a bargain, don’t they?

Of course, in order to be able to start this kind of business, you will need to invest in a high-quality camera that will easily capture clear, high-resolution images. You will also need to invest in a photography course that specializes in real estate photography so that you are able to hone your skills and ensure that the quality of the photos you capture is high.

In addition to investing in a high-quality camera, it’s also vital that you consider other crucial pieces of technology, such as a drone, for instance. Today, many real estate companies use drones to capture images of properties from all angles, which is why it’s vital that if you want to see your business succeed, you invest in the same tools that are usually used.

Build property for rental potential

Another business option for anyone with a passion for property could be to build property to rent out. While you could opt to buy property to rent out, which can be just as effective, if you have an eye for design and have a unique concept that has high potential for success, such as building an apartment block that comes with a range of unique features, then doing something different and choosing to build your property rather than buying one, could be the answer.

Of course, if you are going to choose to build property, rather than buying it, it’s important to think things through carefully. This means taking the time to consider everything that would come with building property rather than buying it, such as finding the ideal plot of land, needing to apply for adequate planning permission, and taking out a survey of the area. Then there’s the cost of working with a professional architect, to take into account – you can find details here about your options for this. The fact is that while choosing to build property rather than buying it comes with various opportunities; it’s important to realize that there is a lot more work that comes with it as well. The process is more timely and most costly, plus it will take longer for you to see results. Of course, if you can afford the time and money, then this is a great option, particularly if you have an idea that will allow you to create homes that are truly unique, as everyone knows that it’s the USP that makes a business a success.

Launch your own real estate company

Do you have a passion for sales? Then perhaps you should consider launching your own real estate company? Have you always wanted to view house after house, showing people around and helping them to choose whether to make a purchase? If you have, then perhaps starting a real estate company could be a great business option for you. The fact is that when it comes to property, real estate is a great area to get into, especially if you are a people person and have a knack for sales.

If you can’t afford to purchase a premises, don’t panic – you can always opt to run your business virtually. Today, more and more companies are becoming virtual because by doing so they can cut costs and reduce their spending. In addition to this, they can offer their services for a lower price, which can help to ensure that when it comes to their success, their chances are much higher. By running your real estate company virtually, you can ensure that you have the highest chance of success possible, as you can keep your fees wonderfully low, due to having minimal overhead costs. The more affordable your services are, the higher your chances of success are, which is why keeping your overhead costs low is so important.

There you have it, a guide to all of the best ways that you could consider working in the property sector as a business owner. The fact is that when it comes to property, it isn’t easy to find the right area for your business, as there are just so many different options to choose from. However, if you take note of the tips and advice above, you can ensure that when it comes to launching a property-focused business, you can pick the one that’s the best fit for you, and that comes with the opportunities that you need it to.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Pexels

Managing your work/life balance can be extremely difficult. Especially when you feel as though things aren’t going well at work. Have you ever had that feeling that maybe you’re being taken advantage of and not treated fairly? Well, the truth is, if you feel this way, then you probably aren’t being treated fairly at all. Too many companies will take advantage of their employees, particularly if they feel like they’re perhaps ‘weaker’ than them.

As women, we usually get the worse end of the stick. Most employers think they can easily intimidate women, which means they feel as though they can get away with anything without seeing the consequence. Well, no more. It’s time to stand up for ourselves and prove we’re a lot stronger than they think. Firstly, you need to figure out if your suspicions of poor treatment have any weight behind them. So, here are a few ways you can tell that you’re being treated unfairly at work.

You Don’t Receive Pay When You’re Off Work

By law, if you’re a registered employee of a company, you’re entitled to certain benefits. One of the universal benefits is that you still receive full pay when you’re off work. We all get a set amount of holiday days given to us by our employees, and we should get paid for them. So, if you take a few days off, and you’re still in your allocated holiday days, then you should still see money in your account for this time off. The same applies to people who are sick or injured and can’t work. Talk to any workers comp lawyer, and they’ll tell you you’re entitled to money if you can’t work because of an injury. If your employer isn’t paying you for any time off work, then you’re being treated unfairly. The only time this is allowed is if you go over the limit of time off work. If you’re given 28 days of holiday, and you’ve used them all up, then you aren’t entitled to money if you decide to go on holiday again.

Fascinating study of gender pay gap among Uber drivers. Men earn 8% more. No evidence of discrimination. So why a gap? MINOR factors:Men work more lucrative hrs &routes; they stick with job longer, so have >experience. MAJOR factor: Guys drive faster.  https://t.co/8PkLj64OOn

— Christina Sommers (@CHSommers) February 7, 2018

You Get Paid Way Less Than Other People In Similar Roles

For me, this is the clearest form of mistreatment at work. If you’re doing the same job as someone else, but get paid less, then something’s seriously wrong there. Sadly, this happens to a lot of women in work, throughout many industries, at many different levels. The gap between male and female wages is still very much there. It’s bad enough when you see people in different companies getting paid more to do your job, but it’s even worse when it happens in your organization. It’s a clear sign that you’re being treated unfairly, and you should flag it up with HR or someone in a higher role. Express your concerns, and demand some sort of explanation. This is quite interesting because it’s intriguing to see how they’ll try and justify paying two people different wages for the same job. Hopefully, just flagging this will force them to give you a raise. If not, look around for a new job and quit this company because they clearly don’t value you as an employee.

You Keep Being Given The Rubbish Jobs

This is one of the more subtle ways you can be unfairly treated at work. Let’s say you work in an office as part of a team. You all have the same job title, and you all get assigned jobs to do throughout the day. One of your team can be put on phone answering duty, someone else may be in charge of answering emails, but you get stuck with the long, tedious jobs like sorting through thousands of paper files. If this is a one-off, and everyone rotates through different roles, then it’s fine, that’s fair. But, on a daily basis, if you’re always being lumped with the bad jobs, then that’s just not on. It makes it feel like your boss has something against you, and I think you should make it known. Talk to human resources and explain the situation that people in the same team as you, with the same job title, are being given much easier jobs all the time. You keep getting lumped with the jobs nobody wants to do, and it’s just unfair. Hopefully, raising your concerns makes a difference and work will be assigned more fairly in the future.

You’re The Butt Of All The Jokes

This is another one of the subtle ways you can be treated badly at work. I mean, sure, workplace banter is a common thing. There’s nothing wrong with everyone having a laugh and making jokes about one another. If anything, it’s encouraging because it brings the team together and you feel comfortable enough making one of each other. The problem is when you’re the only one that gets made fun of. You’re the only person people make jokes about, and people get really defensive and annoyed if you make jokes back. Here, this could be classified as workplace bullying, particularly if you’re not okay with it and the jokes get really personal. It’s even worse when your superiors are the ones cracking the jokes, because you feel defenceless like you can’t respond. Again, this is another issue for HR, but you could also take legal action too. Particularly if the treatment gets so bad that you leave work or get fired because you made a joke back and your boss didn’t like it.

If you’ve been reading this and noticed a few things that you can relate to, then you’re probably being treated unfairly. It’s horrible when this happens, as it makes you feel really unmotivated to go to work. Your mood carries on when you get home too, meaning you can’t be as good a parent as you want to be. Your children don’t get the attention they need because your mind is at work. So, take some of my advice, raise your concerns, explore legal options, and think about finding a new job. This helps you find the right work/life balance and be happier in your career.