AIBU to think some people should just grow up

[ithinksheisawuss]

Details changed and I’ve name changed to stop it being identifiable.

AIBU to think some people just need to grow up and get on with it at work?

I work in a busy fast paced environment. It’s a big office with two distinct areas. On one side are the sales people this is high stress and loud, on the other side is the support staff area which is much gentler. The support staff are mainly older women, the sales staff are a mixed bunch.

The sales side is very robust, lots of swearing and mickey taking. Some days people let off steam by shouting we all just laugh and get on with it, no one takes offence. When someone shouts we laugh at them then they laugh and the tension breaks. We need this release sometimes.

Anyway, one of the support ladies lady S was doing a job at the sales end of the office colleague A put the phone down and started to shout. Lady S asked a question of colleague A and colleague A shouted. She didn’t shout at lady S - she was just shouty iyswim.

Lady S has put in a formal complaint saying she has been bullied and colleague A was unprofessional. Colleague A often behaves like this it’s her passion that makes her good at her job.

If all the sales staff behaved in the quiet demure way the support staff do no sales would get made! But the whole support area is up in arms about poor lady S.

TBH I think lady S is a bit of a wuss but I am wondering if I am too harsh. Colleague A is really valuable to the business, lady S is easily replaceable.

Sounds like the woman who likes the sound of her own voice too much needs to calm down and stop shouting at her colleagues.

Like a lot of pp’s have said there is usually an extremely immature atmosphere in sales which spoils it for people like your colleague who was on the receiving end of that attitude.

I think it's the sales staff that need to grow up in this case. What a way to carry on!

I do think it's hilarious that you say it's the support staff member who needs to grow up, whereas it is blatantly the sales staff who do.

I'm curious about how all this shoutyness helps sales. If someone were busy trying to sell me something expensive and I could hear loads of shouting going on in the background, I suspect I'd think twice and decide to look elsewhere.

Sales is a shit job and most people who do it or know someone close who does realise that. That’s no excuse to treat each other like shit and all it does it make it a less pleasant place to work for everyone, and give the company a reputation so good people stay clear

Makes a tidy profit. Lady S takes the bonus we make for her.

Can’t imagine what your colleague is going to think about your username and being referred to as ‘Lady S’ and less ‘valuable’ to the organisation than your team.

Oh dear. It certainly sounds as though there's some growing up required, but not on the part of the support staff.

You're saying you get it, that you need to be 'careful' around the support staff, but the way you talk about them not understanding 'the rules' makes it clear how little respect you have for them.

Shouting and yelling in the office isn't a 'rule' - it's a culture that's grown up, and no doubt every incomer has to fall in line with it or be considered a spoilsport. It sounds like the support staff are the ones who understand the actual rules - treat your colleagues with respect and don't behave as though you have no self-control whatsoever.

Everyone can avoid shouting. It's easy. You just don't shout.

@cambodianfoxhoud

So agree with all you've written - the City has moved on, so I don't think that's it. It's some mickey mouse organisation in the home counties I'm guessing.

is it just me picturing posters on this thread as a group of lovely old dears sipping their cup of tea and tutting "oh no, you mustn't do that, it's not professional"! Bless them

Yes I think it's just you and the OP, quite frankly.

The defensiveness says a lot

Not read the whole thread but think (know) that it is entirely possible to sell products without being shouty to colleagues. That's all really.

Cucaracha - yep, just you. HTH.

Sipping cup of tea from City job not full of shouty wankers

cucaracha Are you one of them?

@cucaracha Yea just you, I'm 24 and still think the sales staff need to grow up. It's nothing to do with young vs old.

Sounds to me like the clashing of two work cultures. Seems like the Sales team are happy with the working culture they have created but have then forgotten that others might find it intimidating and rude. Keeping the work culture in the team is fine, trying to spread that to others is not.

Yep it's just you!! I think it's quite funny that you think that if people aren't shouting and swearing and throwing computers around then they must not have stressful or intense jobs which they carry out perfectly well.

This thread is fucking hilarious!

What macho bollocks.

He got a new machine then kept right on making money?

Is that line from your self-published book?

Hahahahaha!

yes, ok, I agree, I could have phrased that a bit better That's the problem when you try to avoid too many revealing details, but you get the idea. I am sure the IT guys fondly remember these incidents.

IT guys

IT people surely?

You can hardly call salespeople “professionals”, though. Some of them are a tad rough and I guess bawling their heads off comes with the territory.

cambodianfox and londonista - similar background here (the City/Finance) and no, I've never seen people behaving like this in the past 15 years. Agree it's some tinpot outfit which is sadly behind the times in terms of what is acceptable.

I have a headache just thinking about working in such a childish office. The shouting would drive me mad.

Bullsheet dot com.