We are all experiencing something new here. Coronavirus outbreak has made enormous changes in the life of employers and employees. Many people have lost their job due to the impossibility of the business they are working for to switch online. So, if you are currently able to work online, that is certainly good news.

But, what if you have a toxic boss and you started working from home?

This is a big issue for many. A new challenge to overcome. Things can get better for you in case your workplace was making you anxious but in many cases, people are reporting they are feeling even worse now because they are constantly being monitored by their toxic boss even in their own home, the only place which was safe before remote work took off.

Large organizations have installed software on employers’ laptops that take photos of their screen at intervals throughout the day and monitor how much time they spend browsing the internet and which websites.

The Wall Street Journal instructed its staff to “respond within just a few minutes” to Slack or Google Hangout messages and to let managers know if they are taking a break, in meetings, conducting interviews or if they will “otherwise be unavailable for a while.”

All these things are not making life easier for the employees. Add to that the toxicity of the boss and you are pretty much worse than going to the office.

So, what should you do? How can you adapt to the new situation? Let’s face it, this will not go away any time soon so the sooner you adopt it, you will feel better. 

The number one behavior you should adopt immediately is being a top-notch professional.

You would probably prefer working in your pyjamas but if you are being monitored and asked to dress professionally, do it. Do not make a big deal of it, just adapt.

This kind of behavior will put you in a different mental state of mind. Even if you are home, being dressed like you are going to work, will do you a favor when your shift is over and you get to change your clothes. Your mind won’t be tricked, you will be sure when is work time and when is home time. The point here is to make things your toxic boss is forcing you to do into a benefit for you. In that case, he or she has very little power over you. 

When it is work time, work hard and prove you are a liable employee.

Working from home has many distractions so it is very important to prove to yourself first that you are being productive so your boss won’t be able to convince you otherwise. Many toxic bosses will pressure you to work overtime saying you have not done enough, even if you have done more than enough. If you are not sure, you will have a problem and probably start feeling drained after some time. If you have this kind of problem with your boss, you need to give in a detailed report about your work hours explaining the things you have done and how much time it took you. This will take you some time to make, but in return, it will give you peace of mind. 

If you feel like being monitored all the time and cannot concentrate on work, you need to make some changes. It is crucial to deliver great results now when all the businesses are fragile. Ask questions, ask as many questions as you can think of in order to get better. Ask for feedback. Ask what could you do to facilitate the communication and make it perfect in order to make business impeccable. All these things will give you insight into how you should behave in a new environment. 

Try talking with your colleagues as well. Ask them about their strategies on how to overcome this new challenge. But, be aware that the majority of people are complainers and not doers. You need to come to the other side if you want to be successful in life. Think about all the things we have said previously and think about many other approaches you could make in order to make this remote work glorious time for you. 

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