To ask for advice with office politics?

[GLADragss]

What do you do when management have favourites and don’t follow the rules equally?

A group of people might be chronically late to work, but the one occasion you are a few minutes late you would get pulled up for it because you’re not part of their friendship group.

It really is down to who you ask and how much they like you when it comes to leave. Eg you being refused AL but someone else asking after you gets the same days approved.

Some people are allowed to leave the office infinite times a day for a smoke break, but the one time you go to the front desk to pick up your deliveroo, you’re called out for “leaving the office outside of your lunch hour.”

I’m starting to feel exhausted - how would you navigate this? Today my manager asked me questions about something I wrong today. It turns out I didn’t do anything wrong - she just didn’t check the history properly before asking me. Nothing came out of it but it’s still annoying having to be pulled up on things others aren’t.

I hate things like this unfortunately it's rife. Just keep yourself right. Be assertive and in no way take the blame for something you haven't done. If you feel confident ask your boss why it's plain she treats you differently? I don't have the answers but it does annoy me.

I would start logging dates & times that other people do things and get away with it and the dates & times I am picked up on things. Same with AL requests.

What I would do with all the info depends tbh but at least all the info would be there for HR to investigate should I choose to take it further.

I once worked for a bully of a boss who had the rest of the department off with stress at one time or another. I liked these people and stuck up for them when possible but, when boss decided it was my turn, I found another job but not before writing a 3 pager giving dates, times, actions and details of how appallingly me and my colleagues were treated.

They were suspended, then moved sideways into a not v nice area & basically pushed until they chose to leave. Turns out they had been moved to us after a previous complaint of bullying so I’m not in the least bit sorry because they were a shitty person!

I had so much of this that I left - but then I was in a position financially where I could. It reached the point where I had complete contempt for the manager allowing it.

Unfortunately your only recourse is probably finding another job while trying to rise above it. Difficult, I know.

Luckily I’ve had a few interviews recently so hopefully I’m leaving soon. I wouldn’t say I’m being bullied but that my face doesn’t fit I suppose!

It would depend on the nature of the favouritism and who was being favoured. Very different if it seemed to be based upon a personal characteristic, which does not seem to be the case with the OP.

If you are to complain you do need evidence such as dates/times and things in writing where this was provided.

Couldn't agree more, creating a log of actions, dates, times etc of all these things is the way to go OP.