I don’t like most of the places I’ve worked, and considering that I’ve been earning a living for over 40 years, that’s a huge, massive chunk of a mortal lifetime to be spent doing something you really dislike.
With the passing of my good friend Carolyn, who also spent a good part of her all too short life in jobs she really hated, I find that the little tolerance I had for bad situations is gone.
The can tolerate most physical environments, I’ve worked happily in a warehouse, hideous office buildings and a basement, although I draw the line at trying to do intellectually demanding work in 76 or 78 or 79 degree heat.
Rather, I’ve become demoralized with workplace assholianism, such as playing favorites or treating people like they’re invisible. It’s the scowls and nasty looks directed at you when everyone else (read “the other people in the office who by amazing coincidence are young and male”) get treated like favorite sons.
According to author Robert Sutton, a nasty remark has five times the impact of a nice one.
What bothers me most is turning into an unpleasant crank. You don’t want to be around yourself most days, and you don’t blame your coworkers for feeling the same way.
On a more hopeful note, here’s a website with workplace reviews.
Better luck to all of us next time.