Do you hate your coworkers?

I'm trying to figure out if it's just generally normal to dislike one's coworkers, or if most people in the professional world are buddies with their work brethren.

I'm the youngest professional in my organization; literally only one other employee is within 10 years of my age. So that's one strike- a lot of the 40/50-somethings I work with bristle at the fact that my department commands the whole place (and that I, by extension, sometimes direct their work).

That departmental relationship also makes it harder to want to socialize with these folks. Having to be in the position to say no, you can't have that budget item you want makes it harder for them to like me and my boss...

But lately I find myself disliking many of these people, not just feeling indifferent. One employee breaks up crying over any random bullshit and then blames me for it. Another one is a malevolent bitch who intentionally tries to show me up in public meetings. I guess the rest aren't as bad, but dammit it is annoying to always have to be on the lookout for that office politics bullshit.

And it just makes it harder to like my coworkers in general. I work 50 hours per week, so I see these people a damn lot of the time.

Am I the norm, or the minority? Do you like who you work with? General bitching and/or anecdotes are welcome.

I like the people I work with, but that's because I was friends with the cofounder (I was his first employee) and I had a hand in helping hire the other 8 employees. We're all easy-going guys, half are gamers.

I don't really know mine that well, but my motive lately is to keep a low profile, plus it makes me look cool.

I'm generally a negative asshole at work, so I'm pretty sure most aren't too fond of me. I have nothing against them though.

Usually, there seems to be one guy (occasionally, but very rarely a girl) who is the focus of all the negative energy in the office, and everyone else takes everything out on that guy. Kind of a Frank Burns type. But I never hate that guy/girl, because they provide a vital function within the office. Without that person, everyone would be way more stressed than they are, and meltdowns would be more common.

I get along with my co-workers pretty well...for the most part.

Of course,there are minor skirmishes here and there,but nothing we can't get over by the end of the day.

B-

Get out of corporate. You'll hate your coworkers less--or even like them.

After working in corporate for 6 years around old people trying to justify their jobs and remain relevant, I took a job at a small(er) online marketing/design agency. About 30 people, most of them under 30 except for senior management.

The girls are cute, most everybody is smart, and the work keeps me busy. There are still assholes, but far fewer.

Only problem is that my marriage has been shitty lately and being around all the hot ass makes it easier for me to say fuck this shit. But I'm trying :(

most of my coworkers are chicks, out of 20 employees there is only 3 guys. Some of them are hot and VERY flirtacious. I really cant complain especially since they always cook for me. Even though I dont get paid much I really cant leave.

One of them which is 42 is a super hot yoga chick and she always talks about sex with me but she has a BF of 14 years and he's a very cool guy. 42 but a body and face of a 25 year old. I really hate it when she shows me her yoga poses where she is bending over in front of me, god damn.

One of my co-workers called my boss and told him he wasn't coming to work because he caught the down syndrome.

That, and other comments, have granted him a one-way ticket to hell.

Needless to say, working with these guys is a fucking riot.

I'm almost 4 weeks deep into my new job and I really like my co-workers. We are small (only 16 employees), but there is a great team vibe.

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Originally Posted by hermegildo

One of my co-workers called my boss and told him he wasn't coming to work because he caught the down syndrome.

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That is AWESOME.

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Originally Posted by SouthtownKid

That is AWESOME.

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That is quite teh awesome. I wonder if he was just being an ass or actually thought that was something you caught.

While I can't pass judgement on your position, I'll toss this bit in: every job I've had where I didn't like what I was doing was made all the more tolerable by getting along with co-workers. When you're doing mundane work alongside another person doing the same, you can have humor and relate. My last job wasn't my first choice of work, but the people there were pretty damn cool.

Have two jobs, don't "hate" anyone but some annoy me and some just need to shut the fuck up.

I'm surprised that my co workers all get along where I work. We had one guy who was argueably the worst employee I'm ever worked with in any job, but he recently go fired, so everybody's happy. I've always gotten along better with everybody at low paying, slacker type jobs. You'd think that when you're in an environment with educated people making higher wages (usually office work) it would attract people with better personal skills and class, but in my experience this is not always the case. I think this vibe permeates those type of jobs not so much because of the people but the nature of the work. Let's face it - nobody in these types of jobs truly like what they do, and that exaserbates everybody's attitude. Like some TV ad for a bank used to say, nobody wanted to grow up to be moneyman.

We have a few people at my work that are passive-aggressive, double-talking, and too many of them get caught up in gossip. I do my best to stay low profile, keep to myself and do my job and stay out of the drama as much as I can. It's a boring existance, but an easier one.

I hate most of my co-workers.

They are two faced drama queens who feel the urge to cause problems to fill the void that their shallow life gives them.

My manager deserves a swift kick to the cunt.

There are about 3 people I enjoy working with out of maybe 18-20.

The rest need to be drawn, quartered, and their remains scattered across the Earth.

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Originally Posted by SouthtownKid

That is AWESOME.

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Yes, it is.

He was obviously messing around but that shit had me cracking up the whole day.

Good times.

I'm in a similar position as Bobak, so I get along pretty well with most everybody.

To me, it seems a bit silly to have such drama with your co-workers. If somebody does something to annoy you, just address it in a polite and respectful way, and if they get all combative with you, just keep a cool temper and tell 'em to grow up.

This thread's making me feel better already, between hermequeffo's co-worker and the Down Syndrome and the wide range of like/dislike for co-workers from everyone else.

@thirdkind: that line of thinking is right up my alley lately. I've only been in the public sector for about three years, but I'm already starting to think I'd be better off in a smaller, private industry.

I'm thinking that the whole "birds of a feather" thing would be more likely to apply in that type of situation. Kind of like you said, and several other people mentioned.

I like my co-workers.

i don't really "hate" any of my coworkers. There are those that annoy the heck out of me sometimes though.

Most of the time my co-workers have been pretty good. As it has been said beofre, there is the typical asshole of the bunch, but all in all a good group to work with.

Although my last job had me working with three older women. One was around 50 or so and looked like Delta Burke, while the other one was this little Latino gal who used fuck as an adjective for every sentence, and then there was my boss right above me. She was the classic "I've always been a fat whore, but I've just had a kid, so I pretend the baby made me fat and now I'm on this diet craze etc.", so she was pretty much crazy at all times. I didn't hate them, just wanted to slash their tires, ya know, the avergae stuff. :D

I hate every one of my coworkers. There are only seven or so of us at the store I work at and I'm the only one who comes close to resembling a cool person, which is pretty sad.

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Originally Posted by genjiglove

I hate every one of my coworkers. There are only seven or so of us at the store I work at and I'm the only one who comes close to resembling a cool person, which is pretty sad.

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ng_carrot2.jpg

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Originally Posted by jro

I've only been in the public sector for about three years, but I'm already starting to think I'd be better off in a smaller, private industry.

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yeah, i went from working for a large corporation to a smaller (personnelwise only) firm with less than 20 people. they're always very careful to hire others who are not only qualified but will also get along with the other employees. it's nice to be in an atmosphere where everyone generally gets along. honestly, i love it and will never go back to the large company scenario. :glee:

I really like my coworkers. Most of them are like me ( studetns w/ summer jobs). We go clubbing ever couple of weeks, and always talk during work.

there is this one gay guy who pisses me off a great deal though

I get along with everybody at them moment, but I'm sure in about a month we are going to hire someone who will piss me off. I always make sure they don't last long though.

And BTW, that was the funniest excuse ever hermegildo. Your co-workers rock. :buttrock:

for the most part I enjoy working with most of my co-workers, however there is one of the bunch in particular I'd like to go ballistic and bust out with some Chuck Norris Karate Chop Action and perhaps throw a large blunt object at his head on occasion...but for the most part we get along...

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/6953/b9876453pr2.jpg

My current co-workers are pretty cool. I'm one of the younger people there, but I get along with mostly everyone.

Except two guys. One's a security guard who has an attitude 24/7, and the other's a tech that smells up the whole office when he comes in to get stuff.

Other than those two douchebags, my co-workers are peachy.

Well this is kind of a YES & NO answer.

As an SPO (Security Police Officer) for a Private Security Contractor (PSC) here in San Antonio, most of the guys on Patrol duty ranking from Corporals, to Sargents right up to the LT. and Captain are all people I'd risk my life to assit, and they themselves have grown a professional liking to me. Problem is I'm still a "Post Officer" and not a Patrol Officer. Might be half a year to a year before I get selected to be so due to there being limited positions in that field. These ppl (about 5 of them) are cool, but I rarely see them other than passing through Headquarters before heading out on a post/beat, or if they're on site for training, or they are there to back me up when the shit gets out of hand on a post... usually the section 8 goverment housing sites.

Other than that... I'm on my own. I've got (1) site that has 600 units I have to walk the patrol/beat on, and it's kind of hard to be everywhere at every second. Most of the other "Post" officers aren't worth a bucket of piss. Only like 3 are even worth talking to. So for me it's Yes I loathe the majority of the officers who don't know the muzzle of a gun from it's breech let alone how to properly write a report, and No for the other ex military, ex LEO and MCT guys like myself respectively who depend on the other to get home alive in some fucked up situations. I'll be commissioned soon with my M1911 .45ACP, as well as qualifying with the shotgun and AR-15 + Cx4 Storm, but up until now I've had to do everything being super careful and with nothing more than myself and a gravity stick/aspe. Last week I was with 7 others at a night club gig on the outside patrol, freggin' shit hit the fan... but only 4 of us were able to cuff and detain around 12 ppl for the regular PD to haul off, the other 3 may as well not even been there. When the "Fugitive Recovery" branch of the company opens up, I'll no doubt only want to work with the best, not some shit-for-brains idiot. I just can't wait to work Patrol, then I get to where the dark blue BDU pants and blouse my boots since Post officers aren't allowed to do that, but at least I've got my black Marine Corps 4 pointed hat with respective SP patch.

In the past however, (like in the late 90s), I generally got along with 10% of my coworkers, hanging out with them and what not, and hated the other 90%. So it's probably safe to say that hating on the co-workers is more common than not. It's for this reason though however, that I've generally worked for myself in the recent past, or have been in jobs where it's primarily a solo gig up to including my duties as an SPO. Not having to deal with corporate politics (even in my case it being a privatized police force, versus a guard detail watching cameras all night) is a blessing, let alone deal with the cubicle nightmare.

I've fallen victim to corporate politics before. Up front everyone seems nice and all, but you wouldn't believe all the bullshit rumors and talk that goes on behind closed doors or even if you're not around. And it wasn't just to me. Most of the elitist bullcrappers of this company would do it to many of the newcomers. The asskissers were exempt from this torment though. And because I'm on the total opposite end of the asskissing spectrum (meaning I tell those who asskiss and get asskissed to fuck off basically), I used to hit the rumor mill the worst.

I'd much rather start my own business or work in a small employee-count environment where you know everyone on a down-to-earth level and not by some company-made tier list.

I'm an engineer, I work for a large firm in an area with like 5k employees, most technical or in engineering. We tend to get along just fine as a whole bunch in my immediate area are all geeks of some kind or another. Pretty nice though I'm not as close to these folks as I am to the ones in my old group/area.

I've met people who I know can be annoying or aren't as adept as they should be and you just kind of learn to work around it/with them. I'm pretty laid back and just want to get the job done so I can work with just about anyone.

not bad I guess, some woman asks me what time I'm going to lunch despite the fact we go the same time every day.

when she asks now we just dont answer. :annoyed:

No.

I learned long ago that corporate sucks balls so I work for smaller companies.

Sometimes I have to slap the shit out of people when they start to act like women, but I like all of them.

Most of our guys are in their 20's, crew leaders/foremen tend to be older. I'm the youngest designer around here so I normally get the noob treatment.

In the event that happens, I bust out some Hazen-Williams or Darcy Weisbach equations and show them who's boss.

Nah, we all get along for the most part. Now one of my bosses on the other hand....Well, let's just say the environment is a lot less tense when she isn't around patrolling.

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Originally Posted by jro

I'm trying to figure out if it's just generally normal to dislike one's coworkers, or if most people in the professional world are buddies with their work brethren.

I'm the youngest professional in my organization; literally only one other employee is within 10 years of my age. So that's one strike- a lot of the 40/50-somethings I work with bristle at the fact that my department commands the whole place (and that I, by extension, sometimes direct their work).

That departmental relationship also makes it harder to want to socialize with these folks. Having to be in the position to say no, you can't have that budget item you want makes it harder for them to like me and my boss...

But lately I find myself disliking many of these people, not just feeling indifferent. One employee breaks up crying over any random bullshit and then blames me for it. Another one is a malevolent bitch who intentionally tries to show me up in public meetings. I guess the rest aren't as bad, but dammit it is annoying to always have to be on the lookout for that office politics bullshit.

And it just makes it harder to like my coworkers in general. I work 50 hours per week, so I see these people a damn lot of the time.

Am I the norm, or the minority? Do you like who you work with? General bitching and/or anecdotes are welcome.

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Dude, I'm in the exact same position practically, except in a fairly small business (20-30 employees).

At first, the older employees hated my guts. I'm a manager here, and so I have some authority. I believe they resented having a young guy telling them what to do. I wasn't even mean about it. I never ever yell at people and I'm always polite. It's just an age thing.

But after awhile, I could see that people started respecting me more and more. I got my work done, and the clients were happy. It made things way better. Some people are still assholes, but that can't be avoided. You just have to take a different approach to those people.

I had one guy who would rag on me whenever the slightest problem happened on a project. So one day, he calls me up bitching about something really stupid that really was out of our control, and I said to him "How would you like me to help you?". And he just kind of stopped, and I think I confused him. For some reason, after that he has been much nicer.

So I guess I would say just try to listen to people when it's related to work issues and avoid them socially. Eventually, when you help them with work, they will start acting nicer socially. At least, that's my experience. I never ever throw my employees under the bus, and it makes things better. Hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by Zenimus

I'm in a similar position as Bobak, so I get along pretty well with most everybody.

To me, it seems a bit silly to have such drama with your co-workers. If somebody does something to annoy you, just address it in a polite and respectful way, and if they get all combative with you, just keep a cool temper and tell 'em to grow up.

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Exactly... besides, I like saving goodwill for when I need to expend it for the sake of the company: I can be a very intense person to get into a work-related argument with (one part passionate individual + one part slightly too proud + loud voice + training as a lawyer = not easy or fun to butt heads with), and I don't want any of that being carried over into the everyday workplace.

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Originally Posted by Magnaflux

In the event that happens, I bust out some Hazen-Williams or Darcy Weisbach equations and show them who's boss.

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For a second there I thought you were going to say you would whip out your Klein bottle and start fappin'. :lolz:

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Originally Posted by jro

I'm trying to figure out if it's just generally normal to dislike one's coworkers, or if most people in the professional world are buddies with their work brethren.

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In pretty much ANY office, there will pretty much ALWAYS be some politics going on, especially if anyone has any shot of either getting ahead or (more commonly) getting let go for poor performance. In mature companies, a surprising percentage of people at the top made it there not because they were good at their jobs, but because they knew how to hold onto their spot. In some cynical schools of thought, incompetent people don't get fired because they weren't good enough at their actual assigned work; they were fired because they weren't good enough at holding onto their jobs by either figuring out loopholes to let them coast, or they weren't good enough at turning management's attention against other co-workers to take the heat off of themselves.

I know it can be tempting to think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, but it's much more the exception than the rule to work in a "cool" office where every single person gets along. Best example I know of is my buddy's wife, who works at a dot-com startup founded by people who were long-time friends with each other because they had become friends while working together at another company. They decided to jump ship together to strike out on their own. She works absolutely insane hours, but the company is apparently kicking ass and taking names in its sector and although she's stressed out of her mind, she's still very much into her job because it was custom-tailored to her skillset, and she's working with people she really likes. If it's any consolation, at least they only have you for 50/week. Yes, to some people, that's actually not that many hours. I'm in the 60-70 range myself, and my buddy's wife runs closer to 70-80, especially during seasonal busy periods.

If you're part of a core group of 7 friends who have worked together for many years and you're all good at something, and you all know what each of you is capable of, then maybe you've got a good shot at some kind of wonderful utopian work environment, assuming your company idea is actually, you know, viable. Alternately, if you work in a low-stress environment where the hours aren't too demanding and there's less of a time commitment, and therefore ultimately less of an emotional commitment, then you may also be able to keep things light and breezy. I've heard some great stories from a friend who used to work part time tech support, where everyone came into work dressed as a slob and just made fun of how stupid their callers were. The trade-off there was that it was a completely dead-end job, which is why he left.

At most other places, people end up doing something they end up thinking of as a great commitment or a huge investment, not just of their efforts, but of their time and over the years, of their lives. It's very common, for instance, for people who have made a huge time investment to work 5-10 years at a company to feel threatened when big changes are afoot, because they feel they stand to lose some of the equity they feel they've built up over time.

Having a hostile (or unfriendly) work environment can definitely be grating, and over time, it can cost a team its morale and ultimately its productivity. It can also burn people out and make them hate doing their jobs. Understanding that most office environments (that aren't either hippie communes or good-old-boy networks that you may or may not be part of) have at least some level of stupid petty politics going on, you might want to think of your current work environment as only one factor in whether or not you want to look for a new opportunity elsewhere (assuming that's what you were thinking about). That is, work environment is a factor, salary is a factor, hours are a factor, potential for advancement is a factor, etc. However, if your work environment is really, really, really bringing you down, then you'll have to start asking yourself hard questions, like whether you can either solve these issues, or continue to suffer through them, 12 months from now, or even 5 years from now.

No I dont hate my coworkers. Their a bunch of good guys. Now the supervisor is another question. He expects too much out of us. We aint fucking machines. :oh_no:

You just have to make it clear that you will kill them if you have to. I worked with a sorry bunch who would do all sorts of things like steal your lunch and such. I just expressed that in a hazardous duty position like we were in things can happen.

here a good follow-up:

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Originally Posted by joeaverage

You just have to make it clear that you will kill them if you have to.

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To let them know you're serious, make an example out of someone --but someone expendible, like an intern or undocumented worker (it's like they were never here!).

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Originally Posted by Bobak

here a good follow-up:


To let them know you're serious, make an example out of someone --but someone expendible, like an intern or undocumented worker (it's like they were never here!).

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But then I wouldn't be able to leave the body on the floor by my desk as a subtle reminder that I am not to be fucked with.

:crying:

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Originally Posted by jro

But then I wouldn't be able to leave the body on the floor by my desk as a subtle reminder that I am not to be fucked with.

:crying:

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Okay... well you could cut the head off and preserve it in a large jar (like Silence of the Lambs), and place it on your desk in a position that it's conspicuous (maybe put the sign with your name on top of it or something). I was going to suggest putting it on a pike, but the health inspectors might not be kosher with it sitting out in the open for extended periods of time.

The bonus of using an undocumented worker is that your particular workspace will be extra-clean when you come to the office ;)

i love all the people i work with.
my staff under me the most.
they're just incredible, and hardworking.
i've come into the job and people gripped about certain people
but i've found that if you're genuine and you just concentrate on
work and what's important to them and what you need then
things tend to work out. what usually throws things off in work
places is when people try to complicate things.
try to simplify and clarify what you need and work on what's
needed from you and things tend to work out just fine.

It's been my experience that no matter what line of work I find myself in I'm always surrounded by incompitent co-workers. Either they don't show up, are late, or don't do all their work before they leave or while they're working. These are just a few of many things where I end up having to pick up their slack. It's really starting to get to me.

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Originally Posted by FormlessOne

It's really starting to get to me.

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head in a jar!
head in a jar!

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Originally Posted by Bobak

head in a jar!
head in a jar!

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You know, that's not a bad idea. But I think a pair of genitles would get the message across even better. And it's a smaller jar.

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Originally Posted by FormlessOne

You know, that's not a bad idea. But I think a pair of genitles would get the message across even better. And it's a smaller jar.

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oh yeah? well... unless the people in the office really know each other well, they'll have no idea who's privates are in there --they'll probably think they're fake or you got'em off the black market (there are ways, Dude. You don't wanna know, but there are ways).

With heads, there's no guessing.