Workplace Environment

I work in an awful environment where everyone on my team pretty much hates one another. You know the kind where we don't ask each other "How was your weekend" or criticizes each others job, etc. That's fine I've learned to deal with that. However, some of engineers are always complaining about our lower guys "they suck, they're slow", but you have to look at their experience and knowledge, not compare them to you.

I work with one other guy who does the same job as me, but flat out told me when I was hired "I'm a a**hole and I recognize this, but that's who I am and because of this people will probably come to you for help instead of me". That was my first red flag. Also, the guy has serious communication issues as half the time I don't know when a change or update has happened. My manager even asks me every other day how's things going between the two of us because he knows how this individual is.

The main problem I recognize is that he is unwilling to share job information mostly likely for his own job security/doesn't play well with others. Needless to say I'm looking for a new job.

Anybody else experience this?

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Comments

bloodshotbetty

I spent 2 years of my life in a job where there was gossip and unsupportive behavior. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a positive work atmosphere where people share knowledge and, at the very least get along. Until you find something new, just try to stay out of the sh*t as much as possible and do your job to the best of the ability.

echo_time_cat

There is a bit of in-fighting and backstabbing within the leadership group in my department. They try to drag me into it as well, and I usually just pay lip service to the drama and move on.

There is also the perception that we are all looked down upon by higher up departments (OPs). Sometimes when the internal drama storm is circling I think to myself "this is why OPs thinks we're a bunch of crazy idiots..." Other times, like when we had been pointing out session issues related to re balancing scripts for months before an issue was acknowledged by OPs, it can be frustrating to feel "brushed off".

All these attitudes and perceived attitudes do is kill communication, in both directions. The way I look at it is, if an individual wants to be an a**hole, I don't have to let it affect me. I make a conscious effort everyday to NOT let it affect me. I also refuse to be afraid of other departments, and reach out/escalate to them, seek their advise when I feel I should...perceived attitudes or not.

As time goes on, I'm finding it much more productive to be "the change I seek".

kiki162

Yes, Yes, and Yes.

Best thing to do in this situation is to keep your head low, keep doing your job, ignore the excessive BS, and look for another job STAT. It's a toxic environment.

A lot of times when I've come across clowns like that, they are normally the miserable ones that "play the game" to get by. Those are the types that will do anything to make themselves look good.

He's not doing anything for himself to excel in his career, and sounds threatened to be honest. You can always chime in with those sr. engineers, and say something smart to them to remind them that THEY were there once.

UnixGuy

Run.

This job will add stress to your life. Unnecessary stress. Just quit. Life's too short for this crap..

alias454

That sounds horrible. I work directly with two other individuals and we are always cordial to one another, We always say good morning and always say good night etc. We discuss upcoming projects, vacations and everything in-between. We disagree on many things, we pick on each other constantly, we argue about how things should be done but at the end of the day, we are all pulling the wagon for the same team. I would consider our dynamic to be a healthy balance between skepticism and respect for each others ideas with a healthy dose of good natured ribbing.

At some point, this is a management problem. Clearly, management knows it is a problem and is unwilling to deal with it. With that said, it may be a lot more work to stick it out and try to fix the situation. It is probably easier to move on because ignoring it will eventually start to get to you no matter how hard you try to be above it.

Regards,

Phileeeeeeep651

I'm currently in a similar situation. My job is designed as (or at least that's how I was sold on the position) a "prospects pool" for other departments needless to say, it doesn't always work out that way. There's about 3 or 4 people who feel as though they've been mistreated, whether that's being passed over for promotions or passed over for higher level support teams, and because of that there is this attitude of "I'm not going to help you because I might be helping someone who could take a job from me". It's become a cesspool of smack-talking, hate, and despair. Week after week we bring these issues to managers and they pretty much say "they're not on my shift so I can't do anything about it". Luckily my shift works very well together but it's the shifts before and after that make me dread coming into work.

I had been causally looking for a new position for a while (its really hard to think about giving up only working 3 days a week) but this evolution has pretty much been the nail in the coffin for me.

Kai123

The stress of that environment will slowly chip away and seep into all aspects of your life, I'd get out asap.

There are plenty of workplaces where this kind of thing does not happen, don't let it cloud your judgement.

Chev Chellios

Good advice above. Mine is to get out of there asap, I wasted two years of my life in a previous job in a toxic environment putting up with all the BS and working my ass off to support my family as it was a local gig so felt a bit trapped and kept thinking it would get better. Most of my colleagues were rude and unhelpful and I became the go to guy for everyone yet management just added to the BS about exciting plans etc in the future- none of it materialised of course. I spent a good chunk of those two years utterly miserable.

We all have shitty days but when they outnumber the good days it is time to look after number one and GTFO

Success101

No doubt. It's pretty bad. There's no "Good morning", "Thanks", "See you tomorrow"...common courtesy.

We use an IM'ing program at the office and it's at the point where if anybody needs anything, we will literally send an IM while being less than 5 feet away from each other lol. It's kinda funny and depressing at the same time.

scaredoftests

After about 2 years of being a 'nomad' and experiencing some pretty awful work environs, I am finally in a workplace that full of supportive workmates. I share an office with 2 guys and we get along great. My only qualm is they bring in doughnuts and breakfast burritos to share. UGH. LOL. Anyway, life is indeed short to deal with people who act like it is a chore to get along or revert back to high school behavior.

10Linefigure

It can be hard, but with a VPC and CCNA you could probably jump ship and find another job. IF not, then best of luck and I hope they start acting right.

olaHalo

If the money is good and youre learning new things Id stick it out.
I wouldnt jump ship for a similar position in hopes that the work environment is better.
Fly under the radar and get paid until you can leave for a step up.

kohr-ah

Couple of things, as I been through this before and kind of am now a little bit, to help you stay sane.

Note 1 - Stop caring. Not about your job or the work you do. Once you walk out that door besides any work that you need to have done that affects you and your job. Don't care and don't worry about it until you walk in the door again tomorrow.

Note 2 - Find a peace maker at work. My case? I go for walks. I always have and probably always will. I walk down to the lakefront now and around the Buckingham and back. By then things have mellowed out and I am ready to go to battle again.

Note 3 - Going to look for new work? Take your time. You don't want to rush into a new place and end up with the same thing.

Note 4 - Don't rage quit.

Note 5 - Make sure you have stuff to do at home to keep your mind busy and keep learning and look to the future not to the past. Guy is a problem at work? Wait 3 days. Still a problem after 3 days? Then you have a problem. If not then it isn't worth getting urked over.

Chitownjedi

CCNA and WGU...

(Just adding it as we have to keep the legacy going of having it in every thread I heard.)

Anyway.. yes, unfortunately I am batting about 20% when it comes to working in good environments where people try to at least get along and share information. I believe to some degree you will find that most places will have its thing that isn't as well as it should be, but for the most part when it's the way you are stating it, you should do what's best for your health stress wise.

If it's not bothering you then do what you have to do there, but if it is, I say at least try to make a change (even though more than likely nothing will change, at least you will be able to say you tried and being able to say that eases a lot of the guilt one can feel when they look back and think could have they done more.)

I especially hate when the teams that I am on rip on low level teams. I believe that senior level teams have a duty to spread knowledge and mentor those below them, not necessarily do their job, but provide guidance.. and most places I am, everyone just gripes about them not being this or that, but don't do anything to try to help.

koz24

How long have you been at this place? The reason I ask is because my advice would be to look for something else ASAP, but it could get tricky if you've only been there say 3-6 months. A potential new employer will wonder why you're jumping ship so quickly(they might think its you that's toxic, or might be afraid that you'll leave them after a short stint). Either way, you'll be in a rough spot as you'll have to explain yourself without putting down your past employer. Hopefully this isn't the case for you. It if isn't, get the hell out of there and don't look back!

chmod

kohr-ah wrote: »

Couple of things, as I been through this before and kind of am now a little bit, to help you stay sane.

Note 1 - Stop caring. Not about your job or the work you do. Once you walk out that door besides any work that you need to have done that affects you and your job. Don't care and don't worry about it until you walk in the door again tomorrow.

Note 2 - Find a peace maker at work. My case? I go for walks. I always have and probably always will. I walk down to the lakefront now and around the Buckingham and back. By then things have mellowed out and I am ready to go to battle again.

Note 3 - Going to look for new work? Take your time. You don't want to rush into a new place and end up with the same thing.

Note 4 - Don't rage quit.

Note 5 - Make sure you have stuff to do at home to keep your mind busy and keep learning and look to the future not to the past. Guy is a problem at work? Wait 3 days. Still a problem after 3 days? Then you have a problem. If not then it isn't worth getting urked over.

The best and more mature answer.

We need to learn how to deal with difficult situations in a mature manner, take your time try to improve the environment or at least how to deal with the enviroment, take your time to look for a job with time, take it easy and improve your skills meanwhile you look for a job, so you can get distracted at home studying to get a new job.