I work at a small federal agency. I've never encountered this. People gossip about each other and about the boss, but to my knowledge no one then tattles to the boss. Been here 5 years and never had an issue like this.

I previously worked in Biglaw and while it was awful for many reasons, backstabbing like you describe was not one of them. Time to move on, OP.

No. Time to brush up your resume.

Ugh, I am dealing with it now. It's not everywhere!

I've seen the same dynamic at federal agencies and NGOs; it is almost inescapable.

Anonymous wrote:My experience is that this dynamic trickles down from the top. If you had a good CEO and competent managers the work culture would be normal.
I've worked at some places with this dynamic, but most places are not like this. I work in the sciences/pharma.

It's called the "no asshole rule." Once you let one in and let it get power, they grow like a cancer.

Certain places of employment, yes. I was exposed to horrible coworkers, cya attitude, and unhelpful if not work hinderance. Certain types of folks thrive in this type of employment, I did not.

Find a new place of employment.

No. It isn't a part of every culture. I have experienced exactly one instance of this while working on a project, and the problem was a new person who was not a good organizational fit. I have been with my consulting firm for almost 10 years.

Nope. Project based work culture is great. You know what you need to do and you do it. Boss doesn't care where or how as long as it gets done.
So much of culture comes from tHe top. How management sets it up big they didn't pay attention to the gossipers then the gossipers would stop. Good luck.

My experience is that this dynamic trickles down from the top. If you had a good CEO and competent managers the work culture would be normal.
I've worked at some places with this dynamic, but most places are not like this. I work in the sciences/pharma.

I was wondering a very similar thing this morning. Every job I have had, has had crazy (and gossiping/lying) people. It's like real life, but in real life you choose who you hang out with, at work, you can't choose who you work with. I wish I had better words.

I've been at my position for almost 3 years. As time has gone on, I've come to realize that everyone here is afraid of the CEO and its not only a CYA mentality, but "lets see how I can make everyone else look bad, and myself look better' thing. This is anything from someone reporting to someone's boss that their employee was looking at their own cell phone (really? because no one does this during the day? -wasn't about me, it was my coworker) to making up complete lies. One coworker told my boss that everyone in another department hated me - mind you this was only after a few months on the job. I've even noticed my own boss do everything in her power to make sure no one has any dirt on her or her team. I think its hilarious how we are all supposed to work as a team in this company, yet everyone is looking to-f over everyone else. The more I think about it, the more depressed I get.

I work for a corporate trade association. I have worked at several other jobs -the other one that was really bad was in advertising sales. Same exact thing going on there as well. Literally one day I glanced at my checkbook briefly for about 10 seconds trying to remember if i wrote a check for something, and the lady next to me reported to my boss that I wasn't working...and was balancing my checkbook. Are you f-ing kidding me? What are you 10 years old? God I just don't understand it......I do not go out of my way to make others look bad, it is just not in my nature. But if everyone else is doing this shit to me, then I guess I need to do it in return.

So tell me - is it like this everywhere? Am I pretty much doomed to live like this in any job I have?