47 Unhinged Tips From Corporate Employees Who Are Going Through The Same Hell

Pay attention to people who prefer to talk over the phone or in person in response to your emails discussing matters that need to be documented. When that happens, email them post conversation with "Thanks for taking the time to discuss this matter in person today. This email is to recap what we talked about/the timeline we agreed on for me to complete (___), you to complete (___) and to confirm your availability to set a follow up meeting. I have these dates available to meet, kindly let me know which one will work for your schedule:

Just because they listened to you vent, doesn’t mean they are your friend! Best advice I ever received at work.

This is true of every job at every level. If it isn't in writing, it isn't a rule. Which means they can't enforce it, but you also can't fight it. Get. Everything. In. Writing. Preferably over a signature.

My first and best manager told me this, 'I believe in God. For the rest, I need data'.

Everything you say, everything you do - will be noted, distorted and used against you. Unless you have proof!

This is most excellent advice. It also helps me to save any social media interaction for after work. I read the news on my break like an old fuddy duddy. i get off work I had for my local watering hole. That's when I hit the socials. Mix that in with a bit of time with the usual crowd. After one or two I'm chatting up and winding down.

Rivers!!!! go fishing... In all seriousness, My dad and his gen had the bar. I had the bar earlier in my career and that lead to many many many good times with coworkers and random people. That is now basically gone in the corporate world, for the average Joe. With WFH, Flex hrs and unlimited vaca, you are forced to go out on your own and sadly, places to do that, are dying... I can see it in my kid. kinda depressing and sad really... It was not always about the drinks BTW, without inets and all that goes with apps and smartphones, you had to meet somewhere. The Regal Beagle is the perfect example... I just dated myself...

and how do you decide when you take lunch? not every company allows you to take lunch when you want, you have set times to take that lunch.

This! And never go on vacation at the same time your boss is on vacation.

We are assigned a time for lunch. We have no choice.

si vis pacem, para bellum

Well, there are some people you can’t be nice to. They don’t understand it.

I learned this lesson when I had kids. I could be a better employee or a better father. I chose my kids over my job.

Complementary to this I learned a) not to take professional interactions personally, if I feel like my opposite number is being rude, and b) tone down my ego and not comment on interlocutors' perceived incompetence or obtuseness, but instead simply strive for a resolution of the issue at hand. My employer pays me perform a function for them. I do my best to fulfill that role and that is all that matters in this context. We have a contract: I am getting paid and my employer receives their part of the deal from me. End of.

Don't allow anyone to use you as a gossip trash bin, or venting exhaust pipe.

I have made some lifelong friends at work.

Coworkers aren't automatically friends, but if you do happen to be friends, orking cows doesn't negate that.

You can be friendly, but not friends.

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I made it to a C-Level position in my field years ago. And I hated it. It was no longer about what I loved to do, it was all budgeting, hiring/firing, scheduling, etc... Before getting promoted, I enjoyed my work, and I was good at it. So I left that job, and when I went to apply for tech positions, I got funny looks, but no offers for a "lesser position' than I previously had. So I scrubbed my resume of the executive stuff. I got a job in 3 weeks after that. I have been happy with my work since then. The executive perks were not worth the ulcers and unhappiness that job brought me.

make sure people respect your lower position. if you are not a senior you dont have to do senior work or take senior responsibility. sure I could, but my contract is not for that kind of hassle by choice

I voluntarily took a "demotion" at work for personal reasons and have not regretted it since. I still do plenty of work in my position but I'm not in charge of anything and the freedom of not being the boss of anything is awesome. Not everyone wants to be CEO of a company. Yes the pay is nice but unless you're a nepo baby the amount of work and responsibility to more than my personality is prepared to deal with. No shame to anyone who has a mentality to be CEO, good on ya and I'll support you, but it's not for me.

I always just wanted to be a techie-who-makes-more-than-the boss-does. Never quite made it there, but I aspired.

This one is super important to me.

And don't talk shop to people who are in the lunchroom.

Is it? Because I'm on my 6th job, and everytime I go for a new job, I have to accept less money than I was making on the previous job. No one wants to pay the same or more than you were making, they make you start from the bottom everytime...

Not always. Unless you are excited to go back to work on a Monday morning, keep an eye on what is happening in your industry and keep your CV fresh.

This one goes without saying. Just be friendly and helpful to all. That’s kind of the point of it all!

Goes along with taking initiative in learning new skills. Let boss know you're interested...provided that's the work culture. Otherwise, stay in your lane and keep looking for what makes you happy

Been saving using the dollar matching from my employer. Their.50 cents to my dollar adds up.

Very true... I have co-workers who will tell you about the most simple task they completed and the higher ups think they're the smartest person in the room. I tend not to talk a lot so they just assume I do nothing because I don't brag about everything I do.

Aka "going through the motions"?

Retracted my downvote. Added an upvote. Even getting water or walking to the restroom can refresh your brain. Be careful tho if you're role is production related. Chances are your time away is being monitored

My 'trick', set up a 'CYA" folder in email for track covering. Came in handy once or twice.

Be the person who takes the minutes at the meeting. He who controls the meeting's minutes controls the meeting's narrative.

Love this! Boss: What are you working on? You: Another Pina Colada please. Boss: What? You: What?

This is especially important if the company you work for is controversial. No one really needs to know where you work, anyways.

Also, do you job well, but not too well, or you will be kept away from promotion as you're too useful where you are

I do the grunt work so I'm not getting fired no matter what I do. No one listens to anything I say, but I stopped caring about that 3 or 4 years ago now.

Think some of my former colleagues didn't get the memo... And that includes a former manager

Agreed and essential advice. If you have a job that works in a toxic culture, you learn how to become a very believable actor. Protecting yourself by not making problematic people your problem works wonders in safeguarding your peace of mind.

Even better if your manager and leadership thinks so too. I count myself lucky. My manager would rather i take care of myself than show up stressed and burned out

I have to constantly remind myself that because the managers act like we are. There will always be work. You'll always have an end time and breaks. If a ton of work overwhelms you, take it one thing at a time and don't worry about what's ahead. This can apply in the service and retail industry. At an old job of mine I was told don't look at the line of people. Just focus on the customer in front of you.