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Exploitation happens, everyday and in most companies. It can take many forms, of course, some much more severe and with harsher consequences to the exploited worker. Almost all employees in the United States and the developing world work much longer hours for less pay than they expected when they began their careers. Longer hours go hand in hand with salaried employees. If you are on salary, you are company property 24/7, unless you have a union contract that gives you protections and rights. You can choose not to do the requested work, but good luck on maintaining the job if the boss demands and you won't or can't output.

Sometimes exploitation happens in other ways, sexual advances, office gossip, a co-worker with a revenge vendetta, a boss who believes his Personnel Assistant is also his Personal Assistant. In these cases, it may be possible to document the exploitation and garner either a lawsuit or a trip to human resources. Do remember, though, that HR always represents the company absolutely first and you in at second (or third, if you count the customers.) HR is not happy about a lawsuit prospect, though, so if you must trek down that path, be sure you have talked to a lawyer first. Once a lawyer believes you have a case, take your complaint to your HR department. If they are unresponsive, take immediate action because your job then really is in jeopardy.

I don't want to be a doom-sayer, but it is almost impossible to "prove" personal exploitation, even with the best kept journal and documentation. The most you might expect if you have done all the required fieldwork and legwork, is a few months of unemployment while you hunt for another job. This is not guaranteed, either. If you fail to perform the work tasks, even if they are completely impossible, you may be fired with cause, in which case you have no recourse to even the bare bones living from unemployment. Job hunting is not easy, landing another job with a better company is best done from the vantage point of your current job, with a good reference from the HR department. Keep the lines open, don't burn bridges unless they are falling down all over you, and get another job before you are completely wiped out.

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