What To Do When Your Boss Breaks Promises – 12 Things To Do

When your boss breaks a promise, try not to get too upset.

Remember, they might be busy and have forgotten.

But if it’s a really important promise, it’s okay to be concerned.

In this article, find out what to do in such a situation.

Key Takeaways:

• Keeping a good working relationship will be tough if you’ve lost trust in your boss.
• Before talking calmly with your boss, consider your position of power.
• Be careful and avoid trusting your boss too quickly if he has a history of breaking promises.
• Discuss your feelings with your boss in a calm way.
• Keep working hard and stay positive even if your boss breaks a promise.
• When your boss’s broken promises hurt your career, start searching for a new job.
• Your boss might not need to keep the promise if it’s not in the contract.

12 Things To Do When Your Boss Breaks Promises

If you have lost trust in your boss, maintaining a healthy working relationship won’t be easy.

Here are 12 ways to follow when your boss breaks promises:

1. Don’t Take It Too Personally:

If your boss breaks a promise, it depends on what the promise is about.

Try not to take it too personally if it is about work.

But if it was about something important to you, like your career, it’s okay to feel upset.

Just remember, some bosses make promises they can’t keep.

2. Understand The Reason:

Your boss might break promises for a few reasons.

Maybe he was too busy or forgot.

Sometimes, he might make a promise without thinking carefully.

If it was a simple mistake, it might not be a big problem.

3. Don’t Be Naive:

Just because your boss says he’ll do something doesn’t mean he will.

If he has broken promises before, be careful and don’t just trust him right away.

You can ask him to write down his promise or wait to see if he keeps it.

4. Your Reaction Matters:

Instead of getting mad, talk calmly with your boss about how you feel.

If you’re upset because he broke a promise, let him know.

He might not realize how important it was to you.

Talking politely helps fix problems and keep a good relationship with your boss.

5. Communication Dynamics:

To talk calmly with your boss, first think about your power dynamic.

If you’re in charge, you can directly say you’re upset.

And if you’re not in charge, be careful.

Ask your boss if he has time to chat and then ask about the promise politely.

6. Have Realistic Expectations:

Don’t expect your boss to keep every promise—everyone makes mistakes.

If you’re unsure, ask your boss questions like, “When will this happen?”

Their answers will help you know what to expect.

If they’re not sure, don’t get your hopes up too high.

7. Don’t Be A Doormat:

Even if you’re not the boss, you can still stand up for yourself without causing problems.

Use “I” statements like, “I feel upset because I was counting on your promise.”

You can also ask for what you need, like, “Please keep your promise.”

8. Seek Resolution:

When talking to your boss, try to solve the problem together.

You can ask to be kept updated or set a timeline.

Short-term solutions could be, “I’ll keep you updated.“

While long-term solutions could be, “I’ll keep my promises in the future.”

9. Don’t Let It Affect Your Work:

If your boss breaks a promise, keep working hard and stay positive.

It’s just one thing and doesn’t mean much about your boss.

But if it keeps happening, you might need to think about your job.

10. Talk To Your Boss’s Boss:

If your boss keeps breaking promises and nothing else works, you could talk to your boss’s boss.

Do this only if it’s really important, and be polite.

Say, “Can you help me with something?” and explain why it matters.

11. Keep A Record:

Write down or email yourself every promise your boss makes.

If a promise is broken, showing this list might help your boss remember to keep promises in the future.

Make sure to date each note.

12. Find A New Job:

If your boss keeps breaking promises which is hurting your career, it might be time to find a new job.

It’s okay to look for a new job if you’re unhappy.

Use job sites like Indeed or LinkedIn and ask people you know if they have job leads.

Can Your Boss Legally Break A Promise?

Sometimes, your boss might not have to keep a promise if it’s not in the contract.

If you’re unsure, check the contract or ask a lawyer.

If Your Boss Breaks A Legal Promise:

Here are some steps to take if your boss breaks a legal promise:

1. Talk To Your Boss: 

First, talk to your boss and tell him you’re unhappy.

Show him the contract and explain why you think he broke a promise.

He might not have realized it and could fix the problem if he knew.

2. Send A Demand Letter:

You can send a demand letter if your boss won’t fix the problem.

This letter says you might go to court if the issue isn’t fixed.

It should have the details and a deadline.

You can get help from a lawyer or use a letter template.

3. File A Lawsuit: 

If your boss doesn’t respond to the demand letter, you might need to file a lawsuit.

Talk to a lawyer first to understand the process and make sure you have a strong case.

Final Word:

If your boss breaks a promise, stay calm.

Talk to him to try to fix it.

If that doesn’t work, you might want to find a new job.

Last Updated on 4 months by Usama Ali