What’s given you the work ick?

[MyAmusedOpalCrab]

I’ve started a new job recently and was surprised at how quickly I lost respect for certain colleagues. My manager regularly doesn’t show up for meetings she scheduled and just leaves you sitting there. Another colleague vapes through every meeting like it’s completely normal. It’s not the end of the world but it definitely gives me the ick and now I can’t take them seriously.

So AIBU to feel this way? And what are your workplace icks?

The receptionist/administrator trying to change things within my team without speaking to me.Thankfully I have a great team who are brilliant at communication.

From experience I now know to listen to my gut and get out as soon as a feel a bad vibe. My role before this I just knew, there was a strange atmosphere.

But things that give me the ick are "we love each other" and "we are family" from a boss who is useless and spiteful.

Or being held to account for something that was nothing to do with me, or colleagues that book every bank holiday week off. Or those with children who think the summer and christmas is more important for them. Or really tight bosses that cannot even get a tin of chocolates for the team or a round of drinks at Christmas.

A colleague who continuously clears her throat and coughs all day long, due to an allergy that she won’t take the medication prescribed for. After 7 hours of it I get to the point of being very close to tears at how it grates on my nerves.

Also my manager who at a recent 1:1 told me in detail how his extreme Athletes foot condition affects his other health conditions. I wanted to run away.

Forced fun on teams meetings such as quizzes and Pet day. I really can’t stand it but we are forced to do this as we all work in different locations. Everyone has to take a turn and think of something fun to do in meetings.

God, needed this post today 😂

Director level guy shagging female employees who report to him, how replacing that approach with changing the reporting line of his latest bang in case it’s frowned upon

People who seem to think a shared office space in the arena to engage in personal acts of grooming. I've seen it all, from having a good root up their nose, plucking hairs, and clipping/biting nails. I find it absolutely gross.

I was going to ask if you were in a Scandinavian country as I have a family member who was telling me about this is in Denmark.

My male boss once straight out said that he enjoyed "working late" (he actually did air quotes) when his kids were young because it meant he could avoid doing bathtime. To me, the sole woman in the team, with two kids under five.

I know and personally I get asked quite a bit I'm ok, I think my friend (colleague) says it's because I regularly look shocked, I am not though just have big eyes and I'm someone who is absorbed in work so if someone asks if I'm ok, I will probably act a bit startled and open my eyes further as I like to give someone my full attention in case it is actually something important about work. They really are nice people it's just not really something I'll ever get used to, I don't think.

Goodness, what a Star 🙄

I can remember one meeting becoming distracted as I was transfixed to a bogie a man had picked. He eventually put his finger in his mouth and ate it. Bloody gross.

Oh yes, can't stand the first one or 'Jack of all trades, master of none!' telling you, the Specialist, the correct way of doing things as they have been on one course in your area or work!

Of not "or work".

They can fuck right off with their work family and bringing your whole self to work.
Usually it means they want you to do extra work for free.

Agree. It means work later, work harder, make sacrifices, and treat work as of equal
or greater importance than home and family.

I’m all for supporting my colleagues and going above and beyond to get through a temporary pinch point, but I expect it to be recognised as ‘extra’, and not taken for granted or treated as a precedent. Pinch points should be foreseen and planned for.

I do like the concept in general as it makes things more equal - everyone is equal in the sauna, but in practice it can shut women out which I don't like.

Yes, I can't imagine it myself with male or female colleagues but I am British so that makes sense 😂

I wait for the inevitable second message when they get down to brass tacks.

I'm British too, moved when I was 20 and it definitely took some time to adjust to getting naked with strangers in public saunas but now I'm perfectly comfortable with other women, whether its friends, strangers, colleagues, or, on one occasion, one of the teachers from DS's nursery

Ugh this, has anyone noticed the more problems, the more they say this? And it feels like a stick to beat you over the head with - yes you will get sworn at by Tracey since we all know her stressful home life (bring your whole self) that was my experience - was an excuse to justify and not manage shit behaviour.

Agree with wanky LinkedIn. One of my coworkers copied and pasted her spiel from a well known colleague in our field. So embarrassing. Everyone thinks the sun shines out her arse.

Oh for the days turn up on time ,do your job,get paid at the end of the month.
And none of the wanky stuff in-between.

We have a new HT (primary school).

The lessons we now 'must' teach every week exceed the number of teaching hours available. We used to get around this by rotating across weeks - eg RE one week and music the next in the same time slot so at least everything was covered across the term. But now everything has to be taught each week and will be monitored. But there's no time to actually do it.

Micromanagement is off the scale.

Working smarter has been removed in favour of working harder and practices that were abandoned years ago because they were just 'busyness' and had no positive impact on children's learning but increased teacher workload have been reintroduced.

I'm sitting in my car in the car park because I can't face going in just yet and my heart is already pounding.

Serious workplace ick.

Oh that’s awful.

I also have a new manager. There is pressure to do more…. But has also thrust a shit-tonne of extra unnecessary paperwork on us.

I mean, just choose.