How many times have you stayed silent about something at work that didn’t seem fair, hoping that things would eventually change?
Perhaps you’ve noticed that the same colleagues are always the ones staying late, that certain people are expected to take on additional responsibilities, or that deadlines are easily extended for some while others are not given the same flexibility. At first, we justify these situations as part of the demands of the job but when similar situations keep happening, we begin to question how much our efforts are truly valued.
Unfairness doesn’t just affect how satisfied we feel at work. Sometimes, we feel it in our bodies, too.
Think back to a meeting where you heard a decision that you felt was unfair. You may have remained calm and professional, but perhaps you noticed tension in your shoulders, a clenched jaw, or faster breathing. It may only have been later, once the working day was over, that you realised how deeply that conversation had affected you.
Pressure doesn’t necessarily create unfairness, but it often reveals what has been there all along.
When things are running smoothly, it’s easy to talk about trust, teamwork, and shared values. However, during challenging times, it becomes clearer whose boundaries are respected, who receives support, and who is constantly expected to do more.
Of course, not every difficult or uncomfortable decision is unfair. But when the same rules are applied differently to different people, and certain employees’ efforts are consistently taken for granted, it’s worth asking whether we’re dealing with an isolated incident or a recurring pattern.
In my work with leaders and professionals, I often meet people who begin to doubt themselves in these situations. They wonder whether they could have done more, been more patient, or made another effort to prove themselves, rather than questioning the conditions in which they work.
This is precisely when it can be helpful to pause and pay attention to what we’re feeling. When we become aware of our own reactions, it’s easier to distinguish momentary frustration from what truly matters to us and decide how we want to respond.
We cannot always change the system we work in, but we can stop interpreting every instance of unfairness as evidence that we are not good enough.
So, I’d like to leave you with one question: What drains your energy more – the work you do or the way your work is treated?
If you are leading under pressure in a system that no longer feels fair arrange a free 30-minute coaching conversation: LINK
