Has Office Politics hurt your career?

[Conversationist]

The office that I work at is very political. People will do almost anything to get ahead, including:

Making up false rumors about co-workers
False charges of sexual harassment
Taking credit for other peoples work
Isolation, cliques
Misinformation to employees so they will make a mistake
Bullying, and psychological abuse

This place makes High School seem easy.

My career has been affected by not being able to play the game of Office Politics as well as some of the masters here.

Is there alot of Office Politics where you work and how do they play the game?

 

[Maleficent13]

Has Office Politics hurt your career?

Yes, darn it. I can't believe how many people are offended by me dating my way through the mailboys.

 

[CheshireVal]

Yes, it really got me in my first job (as a school librarian). I played the game by quitting after my 2nd year. There are just some things in life I feel I don't have to put up with. Disrespect/abuse on the job being one of them.

 

[NMAmy]

Yes, darn it. I can't believe how many people are offended by me dating my way through the mailboys.

Jeez, those bosses are so darn PICKY!

And, no, my office is definitely not like that. I wouldn't want to work anywhere like that.

In fact, I don't think I've ever had a job in the atmosphere you just described. (And I've had many jobs over the years.)

 

[lulu71]

Do you work at my old office? Haha, no it hasn't hurt me because I can play the game pretty well.

 

[oogieboogie]

yes, it hurt me when I first started working. My first real job out of college, and I'd been on the job for 3 months when I was promoted and took on 2 peoples' job titles, and got to go to trade shows. Then I was singled out by the CEO, trusted by him and befriended his daughter. The kiss-***** made up nasty rumors that I was sleeping my way to the top, that I was using external connections (my uncle was a big stakeholder in the company - but I got the job not because of him, and my parents knew some of the executive officers), that I was weaseling in on other peoples' territory, that I was going over my manager's head, etc etc.

It wasn't pretty, but I was pretty much forced to resign from there. It got to the point that it just wasn't worth my health, sanity and friendships.

 

[Disney Doll]

I never had an office politics issue but I was involved in a reverse discrimination issue...another thread someday.

In any event, I ended up leaving that company, but I don't believe it adversely affected my career. Nursing is pretty flexible in that way.

 

[Nickunited]

See - I keep to myself in my office - I work for a HUGE Company and well, there is like 1 person in the whole building that I am really close with but they are just like me. I keep to myself and give people nothing to talk about.

You are right - the corporate atmosphere makes High School look mature - even at older ages people are still petty!

 

[caitycaity]

yep, but not enough for me to leave my job. i figure most offices have some level of politicing and the way i look at it, better the devil you know than the one you don't.

 

[aprincessmom]

Politics hasn't hurt my career but being a woman has. It's difficult to break through that gender issue here.

 

[dadtoagirl]

It has hurt me as I refuse to walk around with my lips permantely attached to my owners/bosses rearends as many people in the office are eager to do. I sometimes get critizied as uncooperative but really should be unwilling to suck up.

 

[LaraK]

Office politics...sure, but then I'm REALLY good at politics since I was born and raised in Washington DC (Of course, being of Sicilian decent doesn't hurt!)

 

[greenyskp]

My boss delibratly ruins my work, and then shows it to my big boss and we have to have a meeting about 'corrective action'. It happens once a week. She just doesnt want me to move up.

Im not sure what shes scared of, shes a real asset to the organization. But she runs every minor mistake to his face. Other than that, everyone is nice.

 

[Kimberly]

I'm not really close with any of my workers, except my boss. But then again I do work alone for the most part and report my findings only to my boss. Much different being a biochemist than actually having an office job. I go to the gym for the most part on my lunch hour, so I don't give myself a chance to really get to know people. I'm starting med school in less than a year, so I really don't see the point...

I worked at Abercrombie though for awhile over breaks and vacations from school, and some little weasel there made a crack about me sleeping with the manager just because I hung out with him once every few weeks.(this went on for months) I really dispised that job now that I think about it...