Recognizing Abusive Employers and their Deceptive Tactics

by Carolyn McFann    November 02, 2007

When looking for a new job, it pays to beware of employers who seem too good to be true. There are multitudes of good, upstanding and decent businesses in the world but the few bad guys out there cause us to be on our guards at all times when analyzing a prospective position. Here are some cautionary thoughts to make you aware of some ploys employers may use to entice you to work for them, only to become deceptive or horribly unpleasant later.  

If the company you’re applying for is constantly hiring, there’s a hidden reason that the employee turnover is high. Some jobs, such as telephone based sales, cause most people to burn out and move on at a rapid rate. If employees are happy with their jobs, they tend to say. Ask questions of other employees, if you can, away from the recruiter. See what the place is really like from the people who go there everyday and do the job you’re applying for. They are the real experts on what it’s like to work there.

If the pay scale is so confusing that it takes an attorney to translate it for you, then it may be purposely deceptive. Look it over and ask questions. Is the employer forthright about how you are to be paid if you work there? Are there bonuses and raises? Is there hope for advancement? If these things are important to you and the recruiter is vague or unwilling to answer your questions in depth, it’s best to look elsewhere. An ethical company will want you to understand exactly how your money is paid to you.

Does the company encourage individual thinking or does it insist upon everyone just shutting up and doing what they are told to do? If you are outspoken and the company is clear about wanting their workers to keep their opinions to themselves, and then find someplace better suited to you with an “open door” policy. There’s always an element of needing to keep certain feelings and opinions to yourself but a good employer won’t punish you for opinions when you do express them. Bad ones will.

If the job is in sales, make sure they don’t keep increasing your quota or statistics needed to make good money. A former employer of mine kept “revising” the percentages, to their advantage, on sometimes a weekly basis. Many of us, including myself, went from making nearly a thousand dollars a week to barely making minimum wage on a weekly basis. Shady sales businesses may also make frequent “errors” in how much they owe you for commissions or hourly rates. To be safe, when working for any sales oriented job, always check your stats against your pay statement, to make sure they match. Ask questions to make sure it’s done right. Corrupt companies sometimes hire those who they may feel aren’t going to think too hard about anything. Then, if that happens, “creative bookkeeping” may go unnoticed, saving the employer much money. If mistakes consistently happen to their favor and not yours, you need to either reconsider working there, or keep your eyes wide open about money owed to you, if you stay.

By being cautious, talking to others, and not rushing into anything too quickly; you can find an employer who is worthy of your time and hard work. Don’t be pressured by smooth-talking recruiters. Think over everything you see and hear, and check with the Better Business Bureau regarding the company’s past if you have any doubts at all. It’s better to be safe then sorry.     

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

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