Accepting promotions without any significant form of extension of self, no extra effort or time invested om coming up to speed, is an example of entitlement in its most spoiled form. As is expecting a salary increase simply for being present.

Booking annual leave or time off without checking first or following company procedures would be acting in an entitled way. The fact, as their employer, you may have very little choice but to ‘suck it up’ is beside the point. Every relationship in the workplace deserves respect including the upward management from employee to employer.

Entitled workers claim kudos for work they had little contribution to. They ask for assistance when, really, they are hoping for someone else to do their work and one that stands out the most, expecting others to pick up their workload because their own family, sport, study commitments, etc., are always a priority.

At first, you might consider your employee’s action as being assertive or putting in place good boundaries. So, you let it go. However, assertive employees with good boundaries show manners, respect, and gratitude. Entitled employees don’t. Instead, they take from you and the team. Vampire-like, it can be draining.

Gratitude differentiates those deserving employees from the entitled. Deserving employees put in the effort, try, and earn what they receive. They reciprocate with thanks and appreciation. Employees who are deserving show an interest in their job, the business, and the greater team. Their focus can be on self, but not at the expense of the group.