Work with People? Setting Hard Boundaries at Work
One of the biggest things that have jumped out to me working as a professional woman of color is that people at work can be really oblivious. Many women of color are overworked and undervalued as employees. Even when employees or bosses try to be woke and aware, they can feed into the microaggressions, the toxic work culture of stacking responsibilities, and just not meeting the expectations we have for a safe and life-giving work environment. While I cannot answer all of the mysteries and systemic issues women of color face. Here are some things you do deserve and some boundaries to begin reinforcing.
Boundary Violations Women of Color Experience at Work
Not keeping their peace
Saying, NO, but not meaning It!
Not turning off tech and access to work emails or co-workers
Feeling obligated to socialize with co-workers after work
Not having an after-work routine
Picking up people’s slack, even when they do not return the favor
Not communicating when a boundary has been crossed
Skipping breaks
The importance of setting boundaries at work?
American workers spend 45 – 48 hours in an office a day. Approximately 80% of those working hours are from Tuesday through Saturday. Because work is so hugely integral to the lives of people it is important to set the boundaries for working. We've already explored how you establish boundaries to ensure you remain true to those boundaries, and how to do it.
How do I set Healthy Boundaries at Work?
Identify your nonnegotiables
Understand your worth
Be clear and concise
Manage and negotiate expectations
Take a break
Stick to your routine
Try Separating Your Workspace
Silence Notifications
Triage your tasks
Look for examples of professional boundaries
Turn off the camera
Create built-in breaks
Communicate clearly
Remote work requires boundaries too!
Since the pandemic started, my work-from-home routine has changed a bit. I'm using my home office more and setting restrictions and boundaries on work and people at home.
I've always liked to keep a strict divide between work and personal time, but the pandemic has made that even more important. I've been working from home for a few years now, so I'm used to having some structure and boundaries in place.
But even if you're not used to working from home, setting some ground rules is important. You need to be clear with your employer about what hours you're working and establish boundaries with your family and friends.
It can be difficult to stay focused when you're working from home, especially if you're not used to having total control over your environment. But it's important to remember that remote work requires boundaries too!
Some tips for setting boundaries include (WFH):
- Set specific hours for work and stick to them. This will help you maintain a work/life balance.
- Make sure you have a dedicated workspace at home that is separate from the living area. This will help you stay focused on work.
- Avoid working all day, every day. Taking breaks and getting some exercise is important for your mental health.
- Communicate with your supervisor if you are having trouble setting boundaries or if you need more flexibility in your work schedule. They may be able to accommodate your needs.
By setting boundaries, we can ensure that we are both productive and healthy when working from home.
How to handle overstepped boundaries?
If someone continues to overstep your boundaries, despite you setting them and trying to stand firm, there are a few things you can do. One is to talk to the person again, explaining why the boundary is important to you and how you would like them to respect it in the future. If that doesn't work, or if the person is someone you don't feel comfortable talking to, you may need to take more drastic measures. You could distance yourself from the person or even end the relationship altogether. It's important to remember that you have a right to set boundaries and that it's okay to enforce them, even if it means losing someone's friendship or love. Setting boundaries and sticking to them is an act of kindness. Know there is a difference between being kind and holding boundaries and being nice and letting others overstep them.
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