I work in a toxic environment and it seems like the majority of people in the office will stab you in the back if they think it will benefit them. I am starting to notice it even with people I would consider work friends.

One of the bigger problems that has made this place toxic is our manager encourages people to go around their supervisors and come straight to him. This drives me crazy believing that there should be a chain of command.

I am naive in thinking this can be fixed? Should I think about a finding a different job?

Thanks,

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dar185,

Run

dar,

I know that feeling as I live it every day at work. I've learned to only trust a few people and still am very careful around them because one of the guys I trusted stabbed me in the back recently about something trivial. At least I know where I stand with him.

I would say try and stay above the fray and keep to yourself. Only you can know if you should look elsewhere. As far as can it be fixed? Absolutely. Will it be? Probably not. My place is a 100 year old manufacturing plant and the way things are are ingrained in the place and will never change.

Link to original video: https://youtu.be/ePK2Ct10Bo4

Separation of business and pleasure. My work colleagues have little to no idea of who I am or what I do off the clock. People you work with and for are not your friends. Makes it harder for them to stab you

quote:

Should I think about a finding a different job?

Vote with your feet.

If you got people working under you, you can support the manager by saying the manager has an "open door" policy and You also have an "open door" policy as well. If they have a problem, they should come to you first.

You tell your manager that it's great that he'll let people come to him directly but how about getting your manager to announce that he wants people to go through their supervisor first. Otherwise, what the hell is he paying you the big bucks for?

Been out of the business/management for quite a while. I guess I was fortunate to have had a long and successful career in a company that was well managed and while all of us managers had that "open door" policy, we all encouraged the people to use the chain of command.

Workplace relationships/friendships can prove to be a double edged sword!

Having friends work for a manager is asking for trouble. Even if there is not some reliance on that friendship, it is very likely to be perceived that the manager is favoring that friend.

I have always operated on the concept that if you asked me a question, I gave you the best answer I had. Served me pretty well throughout my career. Even told a 4th line manager that he screwed up big time. He had!! It was a personnel issue involving an employee who had charged 4 days of rental car cost (used the car for personal use) to his expense account.

A couple years later, that 4th line manager told me that he knew if he asked me a question I would give him the best answer I had. Long story, but it ended up with a great relationship between us.

"special" relationships between employees and managers can never be hidden, and will lead to morale issues which can/will lead to performance problems.

It's work and stays that way. Everyone is out for themselves lest I forget that.

You don't really know toxic until you work in government, where sexual harassment "victims" are compensated with cash and promotions, convict informant's statements given credence over officers, and overt racism against whites is rampant. Keep to yourself, document everything, and remember, at work, you have no friends. Or run.

quote:

Originally posted by dar185:

I am naive in thinking this can be fixed? Should I think about a finding a different job?

YES AND YES!
I work in the most toxic of the toxic. I'm blessed to work remotely but this type of shit happens because people allow it it. Mostly upper management or in small businesses, ownership. The owner of my company is a miserable fuck and the only semblance of control he has is to berate and treat the office staff like shit.

The paycheck is good, but I've got a foot out the door.

quote:

Originally posted by oldbill123:
Separation of business and pleasure. My work colleagues have little to no idea of who I am or what I do off the clock. People you work with and for are not your friends. Makes it harder for them to stab you

^^^This. I hate that, but learned it the hard way. Repeatedly...

That's a toxic work culture there. Something like that can only be fixed from the top. If the people at the top don't fix it, that means they condone it.

Management by intimidation.

Don't let your mental health suffer. Time to look for another job, like yesterday.

This is probably much easier to fix than with quitting. Just don't trust anyone, mark those that you've seen act childishly and intimidate then, mark those you can use to your advantage and act friendly to them, make the supervisor feel like your superior and always praise the manager behind his back.

This is why I look forward to retirement. I can barely tolerate BS in my private life. At work, even less. But the workplace in most cases is built on pure BS and politics. I need money so I hold my nose and keep on swimming. First opportunity to get the fuck out and you won't even get a goodbye from me I'll be gone so fast.......

I used to think some of the people I worked with were my friends. We fished, shot together, and would go out to eat. People pretend to be your friend, then you find out they are stabbing you in the back while stepping over you.

After I retired, I went to work a few days a week in the Vocational School District. I'm friendly to people but they have no clue who I am or what I do outside work.

I'm exceptionally reserved with work colleagues, that said there are a handful who I do consider friends, but they've proven their friendship.

thinking about it they're all Vets too.

Thank you for the great advice. I was off the last three weeks and had a great time. My euphoria wore off in the first 20 minutes back. Time to start looking for something else...