The Exasperating Things That Happen At Work That Makes Us Miserable

The Exasperating Things That Happen At Work That Makes Us Miserable

We need to work to survive. For most people, working is an unpleasant activity. We’re forced to be in an office sitting under harsh fluorescent lights in a maze of cubicles. There is always a looming threat of uncertainty. At any time we could receive an email from Human Resources, and before you can think clearly, you’re shown out the door.

The workplace is riddled with unspoken issues that desperately need addressing. One of the most prevalent yet rarely discussed problems is the pervasive culture of presenteeism. Employees feel pressured to work long hours or come to work even when ill, fearing judgmental backlash and? career repercussions.?

A taboo topic is the existence of workplace cliques and favoritism. This leads to unfair treatment and missed opportunities for deserving employees. The impact of office politics on promotions and project assignments is a big concern. It’s commonplace to find out after the fact that an outsider was offered the manager role. The company didn’t even extend the courtesy for internal candidates to be considered. This leaves workers feeling forsaken and powerless.?

Commuting And Costs of Childcare

The grinding commute, deadlines to meet, sales quotes to hit take a toll on a person’s mental health. There is little to no psychological safety.? Many employees suffer in silence. They endure long mean diatribes by the boss. They put their heads down as the supervisor berates the team for mistakes made. In reality, it’s the boss who dropped the ball and lost the large account.

?You fear contradicting the manager because you desperately need the job. Now that you’ve been ordered to return to the office, your life has drastically changed, for the worst. The three hour round trip ordeal has taken years off of your life. You need to get up at the crack of dawn and take a crowded bus, train, or drive to the office. Buying breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner gets expensive in high cost cities such as New York. Childcare costs have skyrocketed and are nearly unaffordable.??

The Unfairness Of It All

In almost every business you’ll see a pattern of some people getting all the accolades while others are ignored. It could be due to nepotism, biases, or maybe the executives just don't like you.??

There is a great disparity in workload distribution. Some team members? are forced to consistently shoulder the bulk of responsibilities. Others have little to do all day except making daily-in-the- life TikTok videos. To make matters worse, those who put in herculean efforts, their supervisor steals the credit and senior level management are unaware of all your hard work. Since the decision makers are not cognizant of your contributions, your compensation isn’t where it should be. This breeds a simmering resentment and frustration.?

After a while, you just give up. Why bother? You become disengaged, discouraged, and just damn tired. You then start coasting like everyone else.?

It’s Not One Big Happy Family

The "we are all a family" rhetoric is often just corporate messaging that doesn't reflect reality. Most companies prioritize profits over employees when push comes to shove. Grandpa is summarily pushed out of the office because the company is on a campaign to reign in expenses and ruthlessly cut costs.?

It gets worse. There has been a continually growing trend of offshoring jobs from the US to other countries. So, not only does the Grandma lose her job, but now someone in India is taking her job over and paid a quarter of what Nana earned.

The topsy turvy reality is that layoffs frequently lead to stock price increases, as investors view cost-cutting measures favorably. After leaving a job, most everyone forgets you within a few years, unless they need something from you.

Some of the worst aspects of work are being stuck in a toxic workplace culture. Workers must contend with unreasonable expectations, rumor mongering, and poor management. While many bosses may actually genuinely care about their employees' well-being and development, others may view workers primarily as their peons.??

Unappreciated And Poor Leadership

Many employees feel their managers don't truly understand or appreciate their contributions. Only 32% of American workers believe their boss genuinely cares about their career progression. There's often a mismatch between how workers view their own performance and how they're perceived by management.? Poor leadership can manifest in various ways, from micromanagement to lack of support.?

Disputes among colleagues escalate. Such conflicts often go unreported, leading to a culture of avoidance rather than resolution, which can ultimately harm productivity and morale.

?Some managers resort to "quiet firing," subtly sidelining employees they wish to remove rather than addressing performance issues directly. This passive-aggressive approach can lead to an atmosphere where employees feel undervalued and excluded, impacting their mental health and job satisfaction.?

Despite the growing awareness of mental health issues, many employees still hesitate to discuss their struggles due to fear of judgment or repercussions. This stigma can prevent individuals from seeking help, exacerbating stress and burnout.

I could continue, but I don’t want to make you feel even more upset.

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