Robotic Office Jobs

BelovedAunt

Hi guys, after working in community, people facing jobs for the past 10 years, I’ve gotten my first office job and I have to say that I find the whole thing bordering on dystopian.

The work is relatively easy compared to some of my previous jobs and being honest I probably don’t even have 20 hours of actual work to do in a week, but the dynamic between people is unhealthy imo. Pretty much everyone sticks to their own work as there’s very little teamwork involved and there are people who sit 10 feet from me who still haven’t said a word to me after 3 months.

I had a friend who worked in England for a few years and said he didn’t like it because they don’t have any craic at work and it’s very impersonal. As an introvert I thought that no craic at work sounded great, but now that I’m experiencing it firsthand I really don’t think it’s a healthy environment to spend years in.

My question is, is this typical of offices or have I just been a bit unlucky with the team/company I’m in? Its a large multinational so maybe smaller companies are different.

Jimbob1977

I have worked in three multinationals.

Two of them were very friendly. You would have chats during the day and socialise after work on occasion. Naturally, you still had to get the day job done.

The third multinational was full of cold fish. It was quiet as a library. Nobody would help you. Nobody would answer a question. I think the company's ethos and culture made them like that. I'm sure they were fine outside work. But from 9 to 5, it was like a morgue.

Luck of the draw!

Ohmeha

Offices are a lottery. From my experience any office I've been in with a positive relaxed culture has been reflective of decent management and the edgy silent serious business types of office have unsurprisingly been under useless managers who take pride that their staff are turning up to work miserable. These contrasting types of offices can be in the same company, same department or even a short walk down the corridor from each other though some companies can just be institutionally like that just about in every department.

The relaxed offices were always more productive getting extra from their best staff despite the few who take advantage who will go nowhere professionally anyway

At least you are not snowed under with work, plenty of people in quiet unsocial offices like myself are worked to the bone where you will receive reminder emails from management not to be heard chatting or clicking on the internet for even 2 minutes during the day

I think after the first week you will have an indication if a workplace suits your expectations or personality, if you feel your current office environment isn't fulfilling then suss out what other departments are like in your multinational are like with an eye on a transfer down the line.