Table of Contents
Every workplace has a bit of gossip.
Someone’s annoyed about the new seating arrangements. Two colleagues aren’t speaking. Your manager has a favorite, although they’d never admit it.
Usually, it’s harmless enough.
But when you start spending more time figuring out who’s upset with whom than actually doing your job, something’s gone terribly wrong.
Office politics might be unavoidable, but there’s a point where they become completely ridiculous.
Here are five signs your workplace may have crossed that line:
You Have To Watch What You Say Around Certain People
You make an innocent comment about how busy things have been.
By lunchtime, your manager apparently heard that you’re unhappy with your job.
Interesting.
If you’re constantly worrying about which colleagues might repeat your conversations, the office has a problem.
You shouldn’t need to rehearse every casual remark before speaking.
Promotions Have Become A Popularity Contest
You’ve worked hard, taken on extra responsibilities, and applied for a promotion you’re genuinely qualified for because you’re interested in career growth.
The job goes to someone who’s been having lunch with the manager every Friday.
Of course, there may very well be a perfectly reasonable explanation. But when promotions consistently go to the best-connected people rather than the most qualified, it’s worth questioning how decisions are being made.
Getting Ahead Depends On Who You Are
You’ve been waiting months for an opportunity to take on more responsibility.
Then a new project comes along, and your manager hands it to someone with half your experience. Again.
It’s tempting to put it down to office politics, but if employees of certain races are consistently being overlooked, there’s a reason to ask questions.
A race discrimination practice in Oakland can help you assess whether those decisions amount to unlawful discrimination.
Everyone’s Trying To Catch Someone Else Out
You make a minor mistake, and before you’ve even had a chance to correct it, three people have copied your manager into an email about it.
Seems like nobody thought to mention it to you first.
When colleagues are more interested in catching each other out than getting things done, something’s wrong.
Mistakes should be fixed, not saved up as ammunition for the next office argument.
People Are Afraid To Disagree With The Boss
Your manager suggests an idea that everyone immediately realizes is terrible.
Nobody says one word.
Then the meeting ends, and everyone suddenly has plenty to say about it. If employees are too worried about upsetting the boss to give an honest opinion, something isn’t right.
You don’t have to agree with every decision, but you should be able to question one without worrying about the consequences.
To End
You shouldn’t need to be best friends with your manager, agree with every decision, or know who’s fallen out with whom to get through the working day.
A little office drama is inevitable, but it shouldn’t affect how fairly people are treated.
If everyone’s more worried about staying on the right side of certain people than doing their jobs, something needs to change.