Office Politics: US vs UK
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 60
Office Politics: US vs UK
Been over here about 9 months now.
The office politics I'm witnessing in work is way worse than what I've seen back home. It's like bloody teenage tantrum stuff.
What are your opinions?
The office politics I'm witnessing in work is way worse than what I've seen back home. It's like bloody teenage tantrum stuff.
What are your opinions?
#2
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Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
Re: Office Politics: US vs UK
It really depends on the company (and the people).
I have seen good and bad situations on both sides of the Atlantic.
I have seen good and bad situations on both sides of the Atlantic.
#3
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 946
Re: Office Politics: US vs UK
From what my OH tells me, backstabbing, one-uppery and major inefficiency is the norm.
#5
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Joined: May 2014
Location: Reading (Current)
Posts: 48
Re: Office Politics: US vs UK
Interesting, ive just recruited Americans after running our UK teams for years and there are so many more issues in the 3 months than the previous 5 years of the UK. I agree its like a school playground!
#6
Re: Office Politics: US vs UK
the thing i always see is more broad but impacts the office.
I mean the 'I am the best' attitude and 'over confidence' that all the kids seem to be instilled with here, filters into the office and makes people think they are invincible. People seem to be able to talk them selves into jobs and then find they have no clue how to do said jobs!
Plus all the absolute secrecy about salary and stuff - its high intrigue here, much more than i experienced in the UK.
I mean the 'I am the best' attitude and 'over confidence' that all the kids seem to be instilled with here, filters into the office and makes people think they are invincible. People seem to be able to talk them selves into jobs and then find they have no clue how to do said jobs!
Plus all the absolute secrecy about salary and stuff - its high intrigue here, much more than i experienced in the UK.
#7
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Office Politics: US vs UK
the thing i always see is more broad but impacts the office.
I mean the 'I am the best' attitude and 'over confidence' that all the kids seem to be instilled with here, filters into the office and makes people think they are invincible. People seem to be able to talk them selves into jobs and then find they have no clue how to do said jobs!
I mean the 'I am the best' attitude and 'over confidence' that all the kids seem to be instilled with here, filters into the office and makes people think they are invincible. People seem to be able to talk them selves into jobs and then find they have no clue how to do said jobs!
I'm off on a tangent now, but apparently he also feels the need to put in 2-6 hours of overtime every week, even though our field guys have been expressly told that OT is verboten at this time and that I could do my job and his in 8 hours every day anyway.
Gahhhhhh, why did I start? Carry on.
#9
Re: Office Politics: US vs UK
Hmm. All I can say is that clearly some people never got the snot beaten out of them for being a weaselly little snitch at school.
However my current workplace is OK, but I think snitching was frowned upon in the UK far more.
However my current workplace is OK, but I think snitching was frowned upon in the UK far more.
#10
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Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
#11
Re: Office Politics: US vs UK
I think it can vary geographically within each respective country.
For example, the level of materialistic keeping-up-with-the-Joneses in my suburb of LA is unreal at times, far worse than what I experienced when I lived in the Pacific Northwest, and I think this drives a relentless pursuit of promotions and pay raises in the workplace.
Similarly, I wonder if the need to have a Range Rover parked in the leafy suburbs driveway may make office life in the South East of England more competitive than, say, Bradford.
For example, the level of materialistic keeping-up-with-the-Joneses in my suburb of LA is unreal at times, far worse than what I experienced when I lived in the Pacific Northwest, and I think this drives a relentless pursuit of promotions and pay raises in the workplace.
Similarly, I wonder if the need to have a Range Rover parked in the leafy suburbs driveway may make office life in the South East of England more competitive than, say, Bradford.
#12
Re: Office Politics: US vs UK
I think a lot of the politics arises from the 'at will' nature of the employment. Folks spend time and effort trying to ensure that when the guillotine falls it falls elsewhere. With some folks if half as much effort went into doing their job, rather than keeping their job...
#13
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 83
Re: Office Politics: US vs UK
Don't really see this where I am. Didnt see too much of it in the UK and avoided most of it in the USA too. Probably because I am immune to it I suppose...
#14
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Joined: May 2014
Location: Reading (Current)
Posts: 48
Re: Office Politics: US vs UK
I think people seem to think bitching may benefit them and put them in a good light. I see it as quite the opposite!
#15
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Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Office Politics: US vs UK
Sadly, far too many people subscribe to the 'squeaky wheel gets the grease' way of thinking when in reality it's 'empty vessels rattle loudest'.