Detailed Breakdown:

1. “Disproportionate Scrutiny”
   • The first sign that you’re being targeted at work is when you’re under heightened scrutiny compared to your colleagues. This isn’t just about a moment of correction or feedback—it’s about constant and unfair attention on your mistakes.
     • Example: If you make a mistake on a project, it’s treated as a major issue, often resulting in a formal reprimand, coaching, or even a write-up. Meanwhile, your colleagues make similar mistakes, but those mistakes are downplayed or simply brushed off as “minor.”
     • Impact: This type of unequal treatment leads to feelings of stress, anxiety, and frustration. You may begin questioning your own abilities or feel like you’re being unfairly targeted for things that would go unnoticed if others did them.
2. “Your Concerns Are Disregarded”
   • The second sign is when your legitimate concerns are dismissed or downplayed. When you bring up an issue or a valid concern, it’s either ignored, minimized, or twisted in a way that makes you look like you’re overreacting or imagining things.
     • Example: You raise a valid concern, maybe about a workplace policy or a particular action that seems unfair. Instead of addressing it seriously, you’re told that you’re seeing it “totally different” or that “you’re being too sensitive.” This is a form of gaslighting, where you’re made to doubt your perception and feel like your concerns aren’t justified.
     • Impact: This behavior can lead to feelings of isolation, self-doubt, and frustration. It also silences you over time, as you begin to question whether it’s even worth speaking up.
3. “Lack of Transparency and Fairness”
   • The third sign that you might be targeted is a lack of transparency in expectations and fairness in decision-making. This is often manifested by unclear goals or constantly changing instructions that are designed to confuse you and set you up for failure.
     • Example: You receive vague, contradictory, or unrealistic expectations for your work, and there’s little to no clarity on how your performance will be measured. The purpose here is simple: when you fail due to these unclear standards, you can be blamed for not meeting expectations—even though you were never properly equipped to meet them in the first place.
     • Impact: This results in missed opportunities, confusion, and feeling like you’re constantly walking a tightrope. You’re essentially put in a position where success is out of reach, and failure becomes inevitable. The blame is then placed on you, reinforcing the idea that you’re not capable or not performing to standard.

In all three signs, the underlying pattern is that you’re being put at a disadvantage, often intentionally. These actions create a toxic environment where you feel like you’re constantly fighting an uphill battle with little to no support. They manipulate your sense of self-worth and performance, making you feel isolated, frustrated, and helpless.

1. Disproportionate scrutiny undermines your confidence and growth, while also isolating you from your peers by treating you differently from them.
2. Disregarding your concerns is a way to silence dissent or concerns, making you feel like you’re the problem rather than the system or issue you’re trying to address.
3. Lack of transparency and fairness is the most blatant form of manipulation in the workplace, setting you up for failure under the guise of “improvement” or “accountability.”

These signs often reflect deeper, systemic issues within the workplace—such as bias, power dynamics, and lack of true leadership or empathy from managers. Being targeted like this can have lasting psychological and professional effects, leading to burnout, resentment, and a damaged sense of trust.

The key takeaway here is that these behaviors aren’t just coincidental—they’re calculated, intentional attempts to undermine your success and well-being. Recognizing these signs is the first step toward addressing the issue, whether that’s through standing up for yourself, seeking allies, or finding a way out of a toxic environment altogether.