Do all workplaces suck?

[Anonymous]

I’ve been in the professional workforce for five years - started mid-Covid and was in blue-collar work before - and each job I’ve had has been pretty terrible. Cliquey, gossipy, lazy, horrible management. There’s always one or two cool people but everyone’s MO generally seems to be CYA and do as little as possible. Poor planning, poor organization, poor communication, no succession planning, no proactive preservation of institutional knowledge, one person doing the job of three, benefits more expensive every year with worse coverage, fake rah-rah “team building” with a bunch of backstabbers - is it like that everywhere or am I just in the wrong place(s)? Is this a post-Covid thing? Am I just not cut out for corporate? Or what?

[Anonymous]

If you’re a government contractor… Yes (with a few exceptions)!

[Anonymous]

Every workplace I've been in has some degree of dysfunction, but there are definitely some where I haven't dreaded coming into the office and where I have generally warm feelings about my coworkers. In my view, these have been workplaces that don't suck.

I'm curious: did your blue-collar workplaces also suck, or is it only white-collar that you're asking about?

[Anonymous]

My workplace is basically the opposite. Everyone for the most part is supportive, works hard, has work-friends but is friendly to coworkers around them, etc.

We have one or two people who are lazy or difficult to work with, but by and large, it's a great place to work.

[Anonymous]

Yes! They are all bad. Unless you have your own business where you have more leeway and even then, you're always going to have to serve somebody (credit Bob Dylan)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every workplace I've been in has some degree of dysfunction, but there are definitely some where I haven't dreaded coming into the office and where I have generally warm feelings about my coworkers. In my view, these have been workplaces that don't suck.

I'm curious: did your blue-collar workplaces also suck, or is it only white-collar that you're asking about?

They sucked too, but for different reasons (feeling dehumanized by management and customers alike, low pay). The politics were minimal and I generally knew where I stood. I now work closely with executives and the mind games and psychopathy are overwhelming. I feel totally unsafe. I think what’s anxiety-inducing is feeling like my entire career is dependent on wining, and my ability to “win” is largely dependent on whether other people like me/want me to win. In my current job I’m making a ton of money and not working that hard - a pretty sweet gig - but I can’t stand these fake, bluster-y people.

I also notice HUGE differences in expectations between men and women - at all levels - and feel discouraged about my future as a woman. There are a lot of unwritten rules that sometimes seem to change without warning.

I’ll note that I’m universally well-liked at my job, and would be described as professional, nice/friendly/easy to get along with, and produce good work. It’s obvious the work itself is almost beside the point. It’s all about the game it seems.

You might say I’m overthinking things but I really don’t think so.

[Anonymous]

In 43 years of working in offices, the first 15 years were in offices with support, and the last 25 years have been toxic. For me it was directly related to how many H1Bs were in the group. The more H1Bs the more toxic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In 43 years of working in offices, the first 15 years were in offices with support, and the last 25 years have been toxic. For me it was directly related to how many H1Bs were in the group. The more H1Bs the more toxic.

This is OP: this too!! “Training” - if there is any - is a joke. You’re expected to know everything from day one and value add immediately. No support from management, but high expectations. Luckily (?) I’m a self-starter and good as self-advocacy, but the lack of documentation and logic in things is…well, it’s a miracle anything gets done.

[Anonymous]

Yes. This is why you should start your own business like my husband did. Now he's worth millions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve been in the professional workforce for five years - started mid-Covid and was in blue-collar work before - and each job I’ve had has been pretty terrible. Cliquey, gossipy, lazy, horrible management. There’s always one or two cool people but everyone’s MO generally seems to be CYA and do as little as possible. Poor planning, poor organization, poor communication, no succession planning, no proactive preservation of institutional knowledge, one person doing the job of three, benefits more expensive every year with worse coverage, fake rah-rah “team building” with a bunch of backstabbers - is it like that everywhere or am I just in the wrong place(s)? Is this a post-Covid thing? Am I just not cut out for corporate? Or what?

Yes, it's all fake. Just make as much money as you can and keep your eyes open for new positions and move when you can. Steer your own career. Don't give them loyalty and be fake and pretend to go along with the rah-rah stuff. They're faking it too.

[Anonymous]

You post a lot- as not many people go from blue collar to white collar with as many criticisms.

Maybe go back to blue collar work.

[Anonymous]

Yes. The reason it was worthwhile for me to become a SAHM and invest in my family, kids, health, marriage.

But, this is only true if you can do without the paycheck.

[Anonymous]

No, my job has none of the things you describe except poor succession planning (not many do that well). IMO a good workplace depends entirely on the boss - you can have a good boss at a bad org and be happy.

[Anonymous]

Work is work. It will probably suck, but it is something that most people will have to do to survive.

[Anonymous]

NP. I used to enjoy my IT career for the first 10-15 years until I suddenly woke up and realized it was sucking me dry … too much overtime, a lot of responsibilities, tough deadlines , managing others who didn’t want to work a full day, and not enough free time to enjoy my young single life and develop new hobbies! And, others who didn’t accomplish as much who got promoted over me because they shmoozed while I worked (and mostly men).

I finally got it and changed my focus to doing as little as possible.