Advice Needed: Office Culture I've been with the same company for about three years now.

Anonymous

November 16,2021 at 3:45PM UTC

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Advice Needed: Office Culture

I've been with the same company for about three years now. In the beginning, a huge focus was given to work life balance and employee appreciation (think monthly birthday lunches, events, team happy hours, group lunches, etc.) During the pandemic, our VP was let go and the culture took a dramatic shift. All my friends left the organization as a result, and now everybody is silent all day, collaboration is actively discouraged, and if you even chew too loud or listen to music with your headphones it becomes "a thing." Even going to lunch with friends has turned into going to the local gas station to pick up food and eating it silently at your desk.

I've been able to get away from the situation by working from home for the last year or so. However, every now and again I am asked to come into the office. Sometimes it's for a day or two, which is fine. However, sometimes I'm asked to come in for a week or more straight and that's where it gets bad. Being in this environment when I am actively discouraged from talking to other people, forced to come in if I'm sick for fear of retaliation from my boss or executives, and the complete lack of collaboration at work has badly affected my mental health. It's to the point where it's not uncommon that I'm silently crying at my desk or even having to hide in my car while having panic or anxiety attacks, and my work suffers along with me. Because of this, I'm often going home and having to make up work after hours.

I actually love my job, I love what I do and I don't want to leave. I am even open to doing a hybrid schedule. I've tried talking to my manager about the toxic environment and while this person agrees, they say it's most important to get face time with executives so they can see my dedication in person and I can continue to grow.

Although I really saw myself staying with this company, I've started putting out feelers to other organizations and have been interviewing for similar positions. My question to you is, what would you do? Should I try and stick it out? Should I go to HR? Should I fight for flexibility? Any feedback would be helpful.

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Kelly MiholicNovember 16,2021 at 9:29PM UTC
This is a difficult one. The pandemic has changed so much for so many companies. We are a saying and hoping "when it gets back to normal..." but this is a turn from which we cannot go back. Whatever your company becomes post-pandemic, it will be a new normal. Should you go to HR? You can but it may not result in what you'd like. Should you fight for flexibility? I would say you should work with whomever is like-minded to promote flexibility together. Should you try to stick it out? This is a question only you can answer. As you have mentioned, your mental health has taken a hit due to these changes. You will have to be the one that decides when enough is enough with this company.
Interviewing is a good idea whether you intend to leave or not. One thing interviewing can provide you with is a glimpse into the culture of other companies and how the pandemic has impacted their markets. This is a question I ask to interviewees as well as interviewers - How has the pandemic positively and negatively impacted your company culture? What they tell you is good, and whether in-person or virtual, how they tell you about their cultural shift can be very eye-opening.
Good luck!
AnonymousNovember 17,2021 at 3:43PM UTC
I am so sorry you're experiencing this. No one should have to work in an environment that makes them feel this way. It's great to hear that you love your job and I'm glad you're having these conversations with your manager. Have you asked them about flexibility, not just the toxic environment?
AnonymousNovember 18,2021 at 5:36PM UTC
Obviously ots of the culture there came from the VP and above but you all played your parts. I wonder, can you try to get that going again? Do some version of bday lunch, or events during peoples' lunch or break times, maybe virtual lunch or happy hour, etc. Someone has to get it started and so long as you're respectful I think it's worth trying. Good luck. ps: If i were there, I'd be crying out for someone to start up some fun stuff again. You won't know til you try.