What have you learnt over the years about the workplace? (wherever that may be!)

DKLS

It's all about how you play the political game and sod all to do with the work you do.
The accountants are king of the hill.
HR are as much use as a chocolate teapot.
No one in the SMT are capable of making a design ever.
Cover your back at all times, save all emails and texts on an external HD.
Drug use is rife amongst at least half of the company.
Goal posts will be changed the moment you hit your targets and kpis.
Corporate matrix communications are not worth reading.
We don't get our annual bonus to feb payroll!!! and they wonder why there is a raft of resignations very 16th feb.
Of which I will be one, 3 interviews lined up for first week in January.

ali-t

other employees are colleagues, not friends and keeping this distinction in your head won't leave you vulnerable. Don't drink at Xmas parties or any other work doos unless you are happy not progressing.

persa

Never take it personally.

Business is business.

meer53

When you walk out of the door at the end of your shift, leave your job behind you. You have a life, live it.

Hootie19

Don't EVER be the spokesperson for a bunch of curious, or disgruntled, or unhappy-with-something-or-other colleagues. "They" will ALWAYS remember the spokesperson, and not the others who the spokesperson spoke on behalf of. The spokesperson will forever then have to wear an "invisible-to-everyone-except-management" hat which has the slogan "TROUBLEMAKER" emblazoned on it.

SarEl

Hootie19 wrote: »

Don't EVER be the spokesperson for a bunch of curious, or disgruntled, or unhappy-with-something-or-other colleagues. "They" will ALWAYS remember the spokesperson, and not the others who the spokesperson spoke on behalf of. The spokesperson will forever then have to wear an "invisible-to-everyone-except-management" hat which has the slogan "TROUBLEMAKER" emblazoned on it.

Unless, of course, you are sensible enough to be the duly elected trades union rep., in which case your T-shirt should have the name of your union on the front, and "just try it" on the back. Trades union officers have more protections than other employees - it doesn't make them invulnerable, but it's a damned foolish employer who tries to take out a union rep.

Callie22

One thing I learnt was that if you feel uncomfortable at the interview, then don't take the job! I was once interviewed by the two managers of a certain department, and the interview was very strange - lots of 'off' questions, and a bizarre 'good cop, bad cop' routine - and I had a very bad feeling about the place and the job. Stupidly I took the job, and my gut instinct was proven to be right very quickly. The department had a very, very high staff turnover and a major bullying problem and it was a miserable place to work, and I left less than a year later. So trust your instincts!

Also, ask about both overall and departmental staff turnovers - it can be a clue to problems.

getmore4less

Agree with plenty of the above posts.

Make sure you know who the real smart people are(above and below) and make sure they know what you can do.

networking

They may have to play the game at times(and will again) but one day they may be your way into somewhere else.

Good people tend to migrate towards good companies but even these have hard times.

Mayflower10cat

Never have a 'fling' at an office party. Not based on MY personal experience but on observing various clandestine 'couplings' over the years.... It always gets back to those 'at the top' and trust me, they take a dim view, especially if one participant (or both) are involved with other people.
Never get falling over drunk at an office do. Never vomit outside where anyone can see you, as an ex-manager of mine did. She lasted less than 2 years.
Be discreet with office gossip.
Be good at what you do and don't hide your light under a bushel, as they say.
Be careful with your loyalties - MD's come and go but you want to continue working for the Company.
Never badmouth your company on t'internet.

I was always very anti any expensive, offsite team building exercises. I was never convinced that they really worked nor were cost effective. I always felt that the participants resented being there (including me more than most!!!) and if they were held over a weekend away from home, even worse. I did my best to promote inhouse initiatives, fundraisers for local charities, because you get the same result AND you've raised £££s for charity. I was very proud that we raised £500 for our local hospice (prompted by the untimely death of our youngish and well liked Manager) simply by having a Cake Stall at work one Friday - we called it the 'all day tea party', and everyone, even those who'd never baked before, had a go. The cameraderie was wonderful and even though there were some tears, everyone in the company bought something. The whole PLC board turned up without warning and we stuffed them with rich fruit cake and tea.... It was a good day.

SarEl

retired2011 wrote: »

But they do.

I was promised a promotion to management, however I could not be the union rep in this position.

So I organised an election for a new union rep. I wanted to stop being one anyway and this was my excuse. My boss knew this but I didn't know he knew.

4 weeks later my new postion was redundant and I was out the door.

At least I got a good pay off and it was the best thing that happened to me workwise.

Never give up being a union rep. I was too good at it, that is why my boss wanted rid of me.

Ermm - but they don't! They didn't take on the union rep - they took on the former union rep who was foolish enough to take a pay-off to give it up. I'm pleased it worked out for you in the end, but all you have said proves my point - they would never have taken you on if you hadn't stepped aside. I didn't suggest that employers won't make every effort to get a good union rep to turn gamekeeper. Who would blame them? But it's a choice...