Work Environment
By Shiva
@Shiva49 (28366)
Singapore
December 22, 2015 8:57pm CST
I am one who likes to be a complete team player and do everything within my ability to make the workplace a healthy one. However much I had tried, I could not create a happy environment in few places. The personality clashes were almost a daily occurrence for any reason or no reason even! That cast a long shadow and even a pall of gloom all over the place.
I have been telling my colleagues that it is unfair to bring personal animosities to the work place as one is paid to do a work and that should be uppermost most in the mind. Though all agree with me it is soon back to square one!
It is strange adults act worse than children when it comes to coexistence inside the workplace. Some seem to dislike others for no apparent reason!
I have worked in few countries and have found the supposed less developed countries have healthier teamwork though their outside environment could be otherwise.
I have not worked in big corporations where there could be systems in place to iron out differences as they arise.
Hopefully, others too can share their experiences
28 people like this
26 responses
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Dec 15
I have always worked for small companies and honestly, I like working with men much better than women. I realize you are probably seeing it in men as well but women can be very difficult to work with especially when you are a woman.
9 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
27 Dec 15
@jstory07 As I said earlier, some never give an inch and the work environment gets vitiated to an extent others cannot breathe even. I worked in one place where two women could not get along to an extent their complaints against each other were a daily duel but the boss couldn't care less - siva
3 people like this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
23 Dec 15
I have worked in places where the workforce has been largely hostile and unpleasant to me and each other - it can be truly horrible
7 people like this
@innertalks (23734)
• Australia
23 Dec 15
@Shiva49 At least though in these workplaces there is a degree of safety. These menacing souls also come into private shops/businesses, and when you are a one person operator, as I was, they can really make you feel very afraid, at times.
Petty pilfering, stand-over tactics, threatening, you, your family, and the business. Following you to your car at night, then the next day scratching on your car with keys, breaking off screwdriver tips in the door locks, and the boot.
These characters made my whole experience in running an Asian grocery a terrible nightmare.
I started running it with my Asian wife, but she soon tired of it, and got a job in a factory, leaving me to run it on my own.
Some gangs of thugs tried to ruin my business. They even stood in the doorway preventing customers going in and out, until I paid them off.
The police of course just laughed, and said get to learn to live with that. There is nothing we can do, (or want to do it seemed to me).
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
24 Dec 15
@innertalks Steve, this is common in countries with too much of democracy and freedom and also in places where labor views employers as sworn enemies! I worked in a coir product and coir fiber company in Kerala, India and few such were started by British in mid 1850s - mine was 1863. There were thousands working in one factory with streets flooded with workers! The unions stepped in over sixty years ago and now factories dread to employ workers, The police and government look the other way! You make me recall what an Australian employer told me - "we get ready for weekend on Thursday and Monday is for recovering from the weekend. The "wharfies" look to the temperature gauge to egg it to 100 for a day off!". I feel too much of a good thing is bad for few though the majority knows how to cherish it but few rotten apples hold sway in the end! siva
5 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
23 Dec 15
Agreed Arthur, almost everyone can recall few menacing souls around! I have worked in places where some are just passengers shaking their legs. They not only hardly do their bit but prove a stumbling block to others. And they manage to stay on forever. I feel it is the nature of few to take advantage - siva
5 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Dec 15
This can often seriously disrupt the fluent operations if two people in positions that need to liaise with each other restrict information.
Of course this is not the only major issue in many companies. My pet hate is the attitude of "It is not my job" or "Not my responsibility" which I have encountered far too often. People expect secure employment and decent wages, but often fail to realise that neither will exist if the company does not remain viable.
4 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
23 Dec 15
@Shiva49 This sound very familiar indeed. My last employment prior to retiring was as Admin in a warehouse office for a company and encountered exactly that. The variety of duties that I was undertaking by the time that my retirement arrived caused them great problems in reassigning them.
Some jobs were being neglected, which I gradually ended up with, plus I even created few duties which seemed worthwhile and needed to be introduced. To the best of my knowledge some of those duties had now lapsed because no replacement could be found.
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
23 Dec 15
You hit the nail on its head, thanks Koalemos, I had noted down this attitude for a follow up post. I held senior positions. Some jobs fall between the stools in the sense they are more generic in nature and some prove experts at pushing them away with - that is not my job. I used to end up doing all the "dirty" work while they pretend not to know! No company can survive if some are not prepared to shoulder responsibility for "unwanted" jobs - siva
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
23 Dec 15
@Asylum Koalemos, at the cost of being misunderstood how great I was and how bad others were, I can say few like me work unobtrusively taking up jobs that need to be done. I have found myself at times in jobs as if I only cared for the company's survival as others just couldn't be bothered. The boss thought I was there to bale out rising waters and colleagues too take it was all my job! And it so happens when we leave there are more people assigned for the same duties with more pay! When a key person leaves it can signify the end of the firm and I do not mean that person is the boss! Our justice/reward system is porous. There are few who get away with "murder" - siva
4 people like this
@wiLLmaH (8801)
• Singapore, Singapore
23 Dec 15
Office politics always exist.. I think. Gossip here, gossip there.. Groups here, groups there. Me in office? I go to work, sit, finish my job and leave office. That is my daily routine. I am there not to gossip and hate others. I was employed to work.
7 people like this
@wiLLmaH (8801)
• Singapore, Singapore
23 Dec 15
@Shiva49 You are correct, one of my colleague really hates another one and keep on talking about the other one. She spread hatred in the office. Now Its either you are with her or not.
Me? I am just an employee who are ready to help anyone.
5 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
23 Dec 15
Most like to do likewise, wiLLmaH, but few prove the rotten apples spoiling the entire lot or rather make the work environment rancid. It is not the gossiping alone and that is common place, but dislike of others to the extent affecting overall work - siva
5 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
23 Dec 15
@wiLLmaH, the irony is due to the few rotten apples others leave the place while they continue to pollute the atmosphere. And they want others to side with them with an attitude - "you are either with me or against me?" Maybe, they are politicians out to divide and rule. They are more prevalent in smaller workplaces - siva
6 people like this
@saurabhrmp (2283)
• Hyderabad, India
23 Dec 15
I think work environment plays a important role for a person to work more efficiently and effectively. work environment should be good in the office otherwise person will be get frustrated.
5 people like this
@righttotheheart (226)
• Delhi, India
24 Dec 15
i think whether it is work place or home a healthy environment is very important.. and we can try to make it healthy but again we cannot expect much from others and can't change their attitude too.. so the best way to stay happy is, to indulge yourself in your work with full honesty and to handle the situations calmly.
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
24 Dec 15
righttotheheart, the issue is few are out to spoil the harmony of workplace by not only not being team players but also actively vitiating the atmosphere to an extent it cannot function, even creating havoc! I have been caught in between crossfires to settle issues that happen too often - some just refuse to abide by reason. It is for top management to step in but when they pretend not to see the discomfort of the many they leave while the culprits carry on. This results in the tyranny of the minority - siva
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
24 Dec 15
@righttotheheart, but the issue is few refuse to see reason and those who work to keep the concern afloat are under tremendous mental strain from "enemies within". Individually, we can walk out and that happens, but why should the writ of the few run by forcing the good ones out? I am one who loves to visit places I had worked for memories sake and renew contacts - and I did with couple them recently where I had worked forty years ago! siva
4 people like this
@righttotheheart (226)
• Delhi, India
24 Dec 15
@Shiva49 yes i totally agree with you but here's the thing you can't expect those culprit to change because even if u will they will not. So the best way to attain the mental peace is to work the way you want to without bothering about those culprits as this will lead to nothing more than disappointment
4 people like this
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
23 Dec 15
I understand what you mean. It is so hard to create a real harmonious environment in a working place because not all people are alike. Some could be peace loving but there are some who are self centered.and would do anything in their favor.
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
23 Dec 15
I feel it is the outlook and character that prevail in the end. Most are like me - grateful for being able to contribute and earn a living. Some take things for granted to an extent they just pretend to work while preoccupied with personal issues. They compete for the wrong reasons and rock the boat! siva
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
25 Dec 15
I have worked with hard to get along with people and some places easy for all to get along. just depends on who really wants a good environment
4 people like this
@Vjvals (906)
• Roseville, California
26 Dec 15
Yes I agree that adults often act worse among each other than children do. Must be the earning. Actually, I've not mentioned this anywhere on the internet because others are always saying how children bully others and they don't say much about the workplace unless it's something they have experienced personally. I found that adult life is more like grade/jr high school because we got along better.
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
26 Dec 15
Thanks Vjval. I find issues are different between male colleagues and female colleagues and between male and female colleagues. Form my observation, men tend to patch up and forget flareups but women find it tough to forget and forgive. Men tend to give benefit of doubt to women while women too do likewise when it comes to men. These are just my observations and cannot be generalized of course.
My point was these affect workplace environment like a cancer when the top management look the other way - siva
3 people like this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
24 Dec 15
I've seen that, and it is irresponsible to not focus on the job that needs to be done. I have called out someone on it once and then later, this person said she agreed with me.
4 people like this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
25 Dec 15
@Shiva49 However, not everyone would be open to hearing the truth and it can backfire. Actually mine almost did, but someone else had said the same thing, so this person knew she was in the wrong.
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
25 Dec 15
@Carmelanirel2 , The majority is sympathetic to the few who act out, but I feel these are mental aberrations that victimize others too and the top management has to react to get things in order - thus far and no more - siva
4 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
25 Dec 15
Thanks Carmela, office atmosphere gets vitiated by even one person who refuses to play ball and others are left to look over their shoulders all the time, go out of the way, to please them. I want to highlight the issues when those who matter refuse to see, hear - siva
4 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23979)
• United Kingdom
24 Dec 15
Sadly this is quite common. I worked in one place where a group of female staff literally hated each other. I think it falls down to jealousy. It is much better when people get on with each other enjoy their work otherwise work suffers and so does morale!
4 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23979)
• United Kingdom
25 Dec 15
@Shiva49 Perhaps it sounds like you boss needs a reality check and needs to act like a boss and get his/her house in order!
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
25 Dec 15
@garymarsh6 sadly, some bosses don't care as long as they are away from the "real action" being played out - siva
2 people like this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Dec 15
You cannot do it alone. You need cooperation among your coworkers in order to make for a healthy work environment. As for the big corporations - they don't care about their employees, only the money they can make. Everyone is expendable.
4 people like this
@birjudanak (14316)
• India
24 Dec 15
i like to work in teamwork but in my company were i worked,most of people work for money and for them so they only do thing which they want and not help other team member so work load is more,but they are good people due to low salary ration they not work.
4 people like this
@birjudanak (14316)
• India
25 Dec 15
@Shiva49 yes you are right and agree with you.
4 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
10 Jan 16
It is definitely not easy to work in a situation where things are not evenly balanced. I know it can be hard to keep personal issues away from the work place but one should always strive to do so.
I have had trouble with co-workers not caring anymore, which causes more work for the rest of us. We are but a small department as is.
3 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
10 Jan 16
@Shiva49 
In my situation the boss doesn't care, and the overhead boss (the boss over my boss) doesnt' care about his people.
In my situation the boss doesn't care, and the overhead boss (the boss over my boss) doesnt' care about his people.3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
10 Jan 16
A lot depends on the boss. If he is absent or just do not have time to understand what is going on, it is human nature for few to take advantage and even create ill will. There should be Grievance Redressal avenues to curb unreasonable behavior - siva
2 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
10 Jan 16
@ScribbledAdNauseum That is what happens in situations like this and people out to create havoc make merry! siva
2 people like this
@hiru84 (942)
• Malaysia
5 Jan 16
If you have a good work environment, you can work there happily. Then you haven't any tired with work and you can work more in easily.You love your institute very much. If our work environment is bad, and there are many selfish people in there, you can't get happy from it and you'll try to release from that place soon.
Hope you have a good team in your workplace.
@hiru84 (942)
• Malaysia
6 Jan 16
@Shiva49
Yes, but every place has some bad persons.If many good people and some bad person in there the bad people work better, but many bad people and some good person in your work place It is difficult to work there,because we can't our mind in calm. I think work with woman is more difficult than work with men.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
6 Jan 16
@hiru84 I was highlighting how the workplace gets affected by a small minority who are bent upon creating animosities. If the management is strong, then everyone gets the message but then human nature is such many wait for opportunities to take advantage, don't play by the rules or accepted norms of behavior - siva .
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
5 Jan 16
Thanks Suranga, I worked in some great workplaces but also few that were the pits mainly due to infighting among the staff; I wanted to highlight how much this issue affects the work environment. Every person is important and though it is understood that not all think in the same way, there should be mutual cooperation and not suspicion leading to few bad apples creating havoc. That many can relate to this discussion means this issue is universal! siva
3 people like this
@Dalane (691)
• United States
23 Dec 15
What you say is true. Adults act worse than children when it comes to the workplace. We have a ridiculous situation where I work too. I agree that big corporations have less problems like this. Small companies become like a dysfunctional family.
3 people like this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
23 Dec 15
Thanks Delane, I find this more in places where few work than in large corporations. Some have egos that are not matched with what they do. I tell my colleagues I have to reinvent myself everyday; past is over, paid for, and future is uncertain while only the present matters and is the best present we get! siva
3 people like this
@innertalks (23734)
• Australia
23 Dec 15
I worked for a huge corporation once, and the workers, some of them also acted like you said here, worse than children.
I remember one man, who every time I went onto his floor, would tell me that I am trespassing on his floor, and would try to push me off, flicking my ear, ruffling my hair. One day he even tried to carry me off bodily.
A real bully-boy!!
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
23 Dec 15
I have seen your menacing bully-boy for a while Steve! I got sucked into frivolous disputes and even called to adjudicate. I tell them I am not God to understand the core of their disputes and decide who is right! The irony is the culprits never leave for another place while others lose their patience. We have to rein in our primordial instincts for a better world - siva
3 people like this
