Toxic Work Enviornment

LegacyUser

Hi there,

more of a venting situation rather than anything else...

I have been with a company for a year or so and was recently promoted and now working close to senior mgt. My role isn't really respected but I'm a necessary evil in a lot of ways (don't want to get into it, really). Senior mgt have made comments about how my position needs key diversifaction and wants me to chime in on reports about things I am not trained in. I give my two cents but it's not exactly coming from experience or education which is a scary.

One particular member of the team seems to see himself as above his station. I have a feeling that he is eyeing up the manager's position and has recently started moving pieces of his chess board around in order to progress (fair dues). Although I understand that he needs to get to where he wants I am not happy with him being in a senior role... Recently he has talked very candidly about axing people due to budegetary situations and is fairly lax about complaining about EVERYONE underneath him. He constantly complains and belittles customers, he is lovely to our more important clients but treats everyone fairly badly. Today he insinuated that a girl who has a mild disease is 'faking it' to get out of work...

I am the most junior of people in the office and all I'm doing is sitting there and cringing. I don't get involved in any of the back biting and just nod and smile which I don't think they appreciate. I have recently noticed that I can be ignored and not invited to key meetings and feel that they are trying to isolate me due to them not seeing my position as pivotal.

(to clarify, my role doesn't bring money into the place which is why I think I'm being so alienated).

Basically, someone also found out what my salary was and now everyone knows. It's a good salary but I work hard for it and did the photocopying long enough... I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle and that they're slowing but surely trying to give me the heave ho. It's made me incredibly down and have begun doubting my value. I feel like I can't talk to my direct manager as I'm afraid I'll just cause tension, I'm afraid to tell anyone ANYTHING because of that too.

Cut throat situation.

I just signed up for a mortgage too.. So I'm not going to sleep tonight.

thefeatheredcat

I don't know what to say that would be of any help or comfort except that most likely this guy feels threatened by you and your progress, probably has lofty ideals of attaining a position but is too lazy to do the work but doesn't want anyone else to succeed either in taking "his" coveted position that he would get as last man standing, rather than on merit. And the others... they are just people who go along with it because they haven't the balls to stand up to him and are intimidated by him, do little things like blab how much you are paid for validation by the group, which makes them total idiots in my book anyway. Since you have to them, shunned their clique by not engaging in agreeing with this guy or in bitching they don't see you as someone worthwhile, when actually you, in my opinion have a lot more to offer than all of them put together, they will directly or indirectly exclude you from activities you are supposed to be involved in. I'm not sure what the best way to address that is, perhaps another poster can offer advice on that.

While you may not want to go to direct manager, are they an approachable person, do they engage this guy and the others similarly to how they behave and turn a blind eye to their behaviour ?

Right now I would be concerned about your well being and mental health because this sort of workplace bullying if left unaddressed can take its toll, which it already has if you are doubting your value.

Is there a confidential helpline or HR that you can contact?