What Would Buddha Do
When a Boss Is Unfair?
Unfairness at work cuts deep because we spend so much of our lives there. When a boss plays favorites, takes credit, or applies rules unevenly, it triggers something primal — a sense that the world isn’t just.
The Mindful Approach
You may not be able to change your boss, but you can choose how much power you give the situation over your inner state.
- Distinguish between unfair and harmful. An annoying boss and an abusive one require different responses. If boundaries are being violated, action is needed — not just acceptance. Know the difference.
- Don’t personalize it. Unfair behavior usually reveals the boss’s limitations, not your worth. Their inability to lead well is their burden, not your identity.
- Focus on what you can control. Your work quality, your relationships with colleagues, your professional growth — these remain yours regardless of how you’re managed.
A Practice for Today
Before you start work today, set one quiet intention: “I will do my best work for my own sake, not for approval.” Write it on a note if that helps. When unfairness stings, return to this intention. Your effort belongs to you, even when recognition doesn’t come.