Negative work environment and office culture, any suggestions?

Question

I work in an office setting with about 20 individuals (government office).  I have only been on the job only a year.  When I started the ladies in the office were rude and mean to me (no reason).  I have never done anything to any of them.

1. They are all in clicks (mind you these are women ages 30-55)
2. They order lunch and exclude me.
3. I do my work but am expected to do more and more, while others sit on the internet, sleep, gossip, talk on the phone making personal phone calls all day.
4. A few have talked down to me (insulting and negative remarks comments).
5. They all create a hostile work environment that is uncomfortable.
6. They always try to find something wrong with my work (even for the tedious/stupidest things). 

I don't want to be the squeaky wheel but I am tired of it, don't want to go to work sometimes and feel alone in the office.

Anyone ever experience anything like I have, any suggestions? ( I am documenting and asked to speak to the director). What do I say without sounding like a whiner or complainer, any advice.

choosinghappiness · Accepted Answer

I understand how you feel and being in that negative atmosphere can certainly affect your work productivity. You have the right to speak to the director and complain. Ask the director to not mention names when they confront your colleagues when addressing this issue.

If I were you, I would:

1) I would let them go ahead and order lunch without me. I don't want to do lunch with toxic people. Toxic people can affect your well being and can make you sick. If that is the case, I would feel more peaceful and more sane eating solo and enjoy my lunch more.
2) I don't care about "clicks", this isn't high school anymore. I wanna get my work done and get paid for it and then go home.
3) People gossiping, making personal calls, sleeping, internet, texting, etc. Should all be addressed to the management and give names. Hopefully, these people will be reprimanded and warned. Some companies give you 2 strikes and then you're out. Some don't even give you a warning.
4) Karma is the best revenge. People reap what they sow.

floppity · Answer

My mum started a new job like that about two years ago, she is the manager but they were all middle aged women hunting in clicks.  She found it really hard and the only way to break it was to stomp about a bit!  She fired two women in the first year, and moved the desks around so people weren't sitting there chatting to their friends... I couldn't have done it!

But I suppose you can not fire people.  But you can stomp a bit.  You need to earn respect and let them know that you are not some kid put in there to make tea, but you are one of them!  Stick it out, but don't let them walk all over you.

Anonymous · Answer

Print out what you just told us and give it to management.

Suggest that management put up cubicles to separate the employees.

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Negative work environment and office culture, any suggestions?

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