I need honest opinions because I feel like I’m losing perspective.
I’ve been working in a salon in Abu Dhabi where I’m basically handling full manager responsibilities daily operations, staff supervision, client issues, scheduling, and even marketing/social media. Since I joined, the business improved significantly (we’re now doing around 70k to 80k /month , when I joined it was 24k / month even with days closed), and I personally pushed a lot of systems, structure, and client experience improvements.
However, the issue is with the owner.
There’s a pattern that’s been affecting me mentally:
She never officially updated my title to “manager,” even though I’m doing everything a manager does
• She increased other employees’ salaries (twice), but told me she “can’t afford” to increase mine
• When I asked about it, she said if I find another job, I can leave
• She often says she “doesn’t know what I’m doing,” despite me handling operations daily
• If something goes wrong, it becomes my responsibility but when things go well, it’s not acknowledged
When I suggest new ideas or improvements for the salon, they are often dismissed or not taken seriously at the time.
• However, the same ideas are later accepted when they come from someone else, or even presented back to me as if they are new. In some cases, it feels like they were overheard during team discussions and then reintroduced without acknowledgment.
• Additionally, when I implement something that proves to be successful, it is sometimes later modified or changed unnecessarily, even if the original approach was working well and maintaining a stable structure
• She gives positive feedback and encouragement to staff, but with me it’s mostly criticism or blame AND whenever she feels like the staff are closer to me or they show some love to me she destroys it either by undermining them to show them her opinion what matters or to for example she raised their salaries to make them happy.
• She has brought up “complaints” about me multiple times, even when I know they are not accurate or never addressed directly , especially if i hit a new target , if im successful i should be ready for a complain
• When I hit targets or improve performance, expectations suddenly change or become harder (for example, increasing workload or hiring additional staff that isn’t really needed, which affects overall structure).
I’ve also noticed that previous managers, who didn’t handle even half of these responsibilities, were paid more than I am now.
At this point, I feel:
• undermined
• unappreciated
• and honestly, like my role is being minimized
I’ve tried to stay professional and focus on results, but it’s getting harder to ignore the pattern.
I’m now seriously thinking about leaving, even though I don’t have another job yet, though the hard market in the UAE currently.
Am I overreacting, or does this sound like a situation that won’t improve?