Things You'll Need:
- Notebook and pen
- Internet access
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Step 1
Identify the type of abuse your boss engages in. Contact your state labor board or the police immediately if the abuse becomes potentially dangerous, especially if the boss physically or sexually assaults you, issues threats, or orders you to engage in unsafe and unhealthy work practices that are not a necessary part of the job.
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Step 2
Record all incidents of abuse by your boss in a notebook set aside for that purpose. CNN Money advises documenting each incident both to help you realistically recognize the extent of the problem and to support any legal action you might undertake in the future.
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Step 3
Respond to all verbal abuse or undermining behavior in a professional manner. Choose a time when you are calm and your thoughts are collected, and approach your boss with an effort to resolve whatever triggered the abusive behavior. Bring a colleague with you to participate in your discussion whenever possible. Maintain the moral high ground by speaking with your boss in a calm, factual manner.
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Step 4
Read the information for employees and job applicants at the website of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, paying particular attention to the sections regarding discrimination and harassment. Also read your state's labor laws, which may have more extensive protections for forms of discrimination not recognized at the federal level. For example, some states protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, which is not protected by federal law.
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Step 5
Speak with your boss's supervisor about the abuse, if your relationship with that supervisor and your company's structure make that a reasonable option. Report the documented abuse to your union representative if you are in a labor or public employees union. File appropriate discrimination claims with your state labor board if you have determined that the abuse is related to characteristics protected under your state law, such as race, religion, gender or age.
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Step 6
Consult with an attorney versed in labor law regarding whether you may have a claim of "effective firing" if you were forced out of your job due to your boss's abusive behavior, or if you have a claim for "retaliatory firing" if your efforts to resolve the situation with your boss led to your termination.
