Workplace Drama

I used to be the employee who always got a lot of work, whenever it was related to my specialty, the requests would come to me nonstop. But lately, things have shifted. It feels like they’ve reduced my workload pretty significantly.

On the positive side, I now have more work-life balance. But at the same time, it scares me. What if they’re slowly lowering my workload because they plan to replace me with someone cheaper, or because they think I’m not competent? That thought really worried me at first, especially with how tough the job market is right now and the fact that I have rent and bills to pay.

But slowly, I’m learning to surrender and accept things as they are. I know I’ve done my best, and I’ve never missed a single deadline since the day I started this job.

i don’t even know why I’m so nervous after all these years, maybe because I’m 54 now and everything feels more fragile, even the things I thought I had figured out. I’ve been working in this company for more than 20 years, through restructurations, new managements, endless workflow updates and all the “as per our last email” nonsense that comes with corporate life. and now that I finally have something for myself, my little office at home, the massage table set up, the kinesiology charts pinned on the wall, my magnets sorted in a drawer like some kind of treasure chest, I’m scared stiff of telling my boss I’m quiting. Isn’t that stupid? after two decades of performance reviews, KPI check-ins, regular compliance training and being told I’m “a strong asset”, I should be able to say one simple thing: “I’m leaving.” But he likes the job I do, he always says it, sometimes I even think he relies too much on me. And he doesn’t believe in kinesiology at all, he once called it “that body energy thingy you see on TV” and laughed. So how do I bring this up without sounding like I’ve lost my mind, or like I’m running away from the whole production chain just to go hug crystals ✨?

The weirdest thing is, I’m not unsure about the choice itself. I’m ready. really ready. I’ve read so many books, done trainings, passed exams, practiced on friends, even did a few sessions with co-workers who were brave enough to let me test muscle responses on them. One of them told me, “Honestly, it kinda worked,” which is still my favorite feedback ever. I’ve been doing the logistics too, registering my activity, checking insurance requirements, planning the client intake forms, trying to figure out how to explain muscle testing without sounding like a witch. everything is in place, even the scent diffuser that smells like eucalyptus went crazy last night for some reason. And yet, I freeze every time I imagine the conversation with my boss. He’s not a bad guy, just very...pragmatick. “Evidence-based or nothing,” he told me once when we were talking about stress. I know he’ll look at me like I told him I’m leaving to go join a circus. Should I try small talk first? Should I just say it straight? have you ever had to quit a job when the person in charge thinks your next career is bogus; because that’s exactly my situation and I feel like I’m rehearsing a script that won’t sound right no matter what?

Another part of me still remembers the early days when I was doing data-entry and he was still learning the ropes himself. there was this one time, during a big audit, where I stayed until midnight to help clean up the regulatory documentatoin, and he told everyone the next day, “She saved our asses.” That stuck with me for years, maybe too much. maybe that’s why I feel like announcing my departure is like betraying some old unwriten pact. But I can’t spend the rest of my life worrying about whether someone else is disappointed because I want to follow my own path. I’ve spent over two decades dealing with supply chain anomalies, preparing monthly reports, making sure the backoffice processes don’t collapse over a missing signature, and honestly it’s enough. My body is tired. My shoulders are constantly tight. last winter, I kept thinking, “If I’m helping everyone else stay on track, who’s helping me?” That was the moment I knew something had to change, even if the change made no sens to anyone else. My sister even told me, “At your age, people slow down, not start new weird careers.” But I’m not slowing down, I’m redirecting. Isn’t that allowed?

So now I’m drafting the resignatoin letter, with typos everywhere because my hands are shaking like an idiot. I wrote, “Thank you for the opprotunity,” and didn’t even correct it yet. maybe it shows how human this all is. Maybe it’s fine. The real challenge is deciding whether to explain everything or keep it short. Do I say “I’m becoming a kinesiologist and magnetizer,” or do I just say “pursuing a personnal project”? I keep hearing his voice saying, “We need you in the Q3 cycle,” and I know the timing sucks, but if I don’t do it now, I’ll never do it. life isn’t waiting for the perfect slot in the operational calendar; and neither am I. I keep thinking of that line from a book I read years ago: “Sometimes the door is open, but you have to be the one who walks through.” So maybe that’s what I’ll do. maybe I’ll sit down in his office, smile politely, and say, “I need to talk to you about something important.” And then I’ll just breathe and hope the world doesn’t fall appart. After all, if I can help clients align their energies, surely I can survive telling one man I’m moving on. Right?

Lately a lot of people are getting sick or leaving their jobs. This is a problem for me because we don’t have enough people where I work and right now I’m the person who has to cover when someone’s away. It’s not fair. People are getting frustrated and they’re taking a lot of time off and the other people were working have to cover it. I don’t know what to do half the time. I’m just hoping they come back yet they don’t. I just wish we have more people to fill in. I don’t understand why they don’t wanna come to our job place. It’s just frustrating. I’m just praying that the person who is away today will come back tomorrow or there’s someone filling in because I don’t wanna do this every time because I have other stuff too at my job.

Hey there, folks. So, I'm a 31-year-old guy, and I got a little thing going on that's starting to bug me. I can't stop laughing at everything. Literally, everything. Just last week, I received a not-so-good appraisal at work. Imagine sitting there with your manager who’s all serious and in-the-zone, saying, "Steve, you just don't seem to take anything seriously," and all I can think about is whether he too smirks when he sees funny cat videos 🐱. But really, it's becoming an issue. The corporate world wants commitment and focus, and here I am, laughing my head off at the smallest things like a sitcom on a constant loop.

This wasn't always a problem. Before this job, I worked in a startup where humor was almost part of the job description. We had ping-pong tables, bean bags, and a boss who laughed louder than any comedy club crowd. But now, things are... different. 😅🫤

I'm in a structured environment where meetings use terms like "KPIs," "cross-functional synergy," and "enterprise risk management." It feels like my inclination to laugh doesn't fit the bill. My manager's talking about the fiscal year-end, and I'm biting my lip trying to suppress a chuckle thinking, "Where did my carefree emoji moment go?"

So here's my question: How can one dial down the humor radar? Some might say maturity, but does growing older mean shedding away that joyous laughter; that isn't the solution I'm looking for. I'd miss the light-hearted me. Luckily, I think there's still hope. I remember reading on some blog once, "Laughter is the best medicine, but it's about the dosage." Maybe that's the trick? Moderation. Learn to redirect when it's time to listen and laugh later.

And still, I ponder over whether I can do it. Would mediation help to calm down spontaneous giggles? Could immersing myself more in serious articles, like the economics section of the newspaper, create balance? Some say it's about training the mind, and I bet they're right. But I’m hopeful that with practice, I'll learn to contain it when necessary and still keep that lively side of me intact. After all, if we don't occasionally laugh at a good ol' meme, are we even living life to its fullest?

I currently work for a job and there a lot of issues and red flags. Well so I am traveling and will be gone for a whole month so my job told me I will be terminated which is fine because I am looking for a part time seasonal jobs and I got this job. I have tons of issues with this job. So obviously its a fast food joint and so much is happening and shedding light about foods in America but I want to vent about the job i am in. So the jobs is cutting hours so most people are getting 15-20 hours and while others like 2-3 get like 35 hours which makes me mad because this team is a dead end because in this job you have to be fast and efficient but these people working are not efficient and they can't even communicate with each other and again I am helping out and what not but this job might be close down due to whatever but still it just ridiculous and on top of that we have a worker who complain about her hours and how she keep bothering every manager for more hours and it make me mad because she has a good customer services experience but she should not be complaining about hours when 6 or 7 people have 15-20hrs so that piss me off and on top of that she doesn't even stay late so try to leave and honestly this team is not structure well. Everyone does whatever they want and it okay to do it because the company has turn into corporate greed but at least have structure. I am only till the end of October but I personally think everyone need to get their shit together. Another thing is they don't care if employees are late they will group chat this say on my way. I am glad I have job but I am disappointed that its mess and I think for this job maybe everyone need to get military train lifestyle. This has been on my mind and I want to vent it out and destress because I do have to deal with them for the next 2 weeks but again they as all whole are not great.

So basically here’s a short summary

I’m in a relationship with my gf and we’ve been together for about 3 years now and honestly it hasn’t been good. Iv been giving 90% and only ever getting 10% and it’s been like this for the past 3 years almost. Anyways this summer I got a new job and met this new friend and the minute we got together we clicked so fast and idk I kinda started to become physically and emotionally attracted to her. I started to really developed feelings for her and everything. I have to mention this new girl also has a gf. Well the summer ended but they hired me as a staff for another program that this girl is always involved in. So we started this new job again and she was there and we got even closer over the summer. We would text each other and everything and made plans to hang out outside of work and sometimes we would go grocery shopping together. We would text at like 4 am if we couldn’t sleep and just keep each other company. Well 2 weeks ago on Wednesday we had a really heart to heart conversation about life and I basically almost cried and she told me how much she cared about me and everything and then last Friday 2 days later she went cold and just refused to talk to me and it went on for week untill last Friday until I got the courage to speak to her because she’s been ignoring me and when she talks to me she told me how coworkers can’t be friends and how it’s not okay how close we got but I don’t get it I just don’t get it. She’s was friends with all her other coworkers but when it comes to me it’s different. It just hurts so much because I know I’m a shitty person for liking a girl while I’m in a relationship but she meant a lot to me and before she was my friend and I just miss my friend and the person I was able to trust, she told me she called about me and turned on me and I’m just so hurt

So.. i have tried to calm down a bit but i still want to kill this childish woman.. my boss who hasnt paid me for my work just posted on instagram all about her new cane corso she recently flew home from ITALY... All while complaining how her company is all fucked and someone has been stealing from her... But all the employed (+me) knows she is a narcissistic crazy person who just "forgot" she cant use her company's money on dogs and cars.. and is now blaming everyone else. SO I have reached out to some people and I hope for everyone's sake that she stays far away from my home town that she invaded with her "oh so perfect summer bar" that turned out to be a shitshow and she couldnt realize that it doesnt help the restaurant one bit to give stuff out for free... This is the rant of the day.. i just dont know what to do at this point avout this evil little fly

I never thought I’d be the type of person who just freezes up in the moment, but here I am. I’m 31, I’m married, and I’ve worked hard to build a career I’m proud of, but lately it feels like all of that is overshadowed by one man—my boss. He has this way of turning normal work situations into something uncomfortable and humiliating, and it’s almost always in front of my colleagues. I wish I could tell you I speak up for myself, or that I shut it down with a sharp comment, but the truth is I don’t. Instead, I give this nervous little smile, the kind that feels glued to my face even though my insides are screaming. It’s not a smile of agreement or encouragement. It’s the kind of smile you use when your body is in fight-or-flight but your brain tells you that staying quiet is safer than making a scene. And then I go home and replay the moment over and over, wishing I’d done anything different.

The worst part is the way he does it like it’s entertainment for the room. During a team meeting not long ago, he joked about how my “presentation skills come with added charm,” dragging out the word “charm” in a way that left no doubt what he meant. Some people chuckled awkwardly, others avoided eye contact, and I sat there with that same smile, cheeks stiff, heart pounding. Inside, I felt tiny. I couldn’t bring myself to say, “That’s not appropriate” or even just a simple “Please stop.” I’ve worked in professional environments long enough to know the terms—hostile work environment, power imbalance, harassment—but knowing them doesn’t help when you’re the one stuck in the spotlight. Have you ever found yourself betraying yourself like that? Smiling when every fiber of you wants to disappear or protest? It’s humiliating to realize my body’s default response is submission masked as politeness.

My husband tells me I should start documenting everything, that I should go to HR and protect myself before it escalates further. And part of me knows he’s right. But then there’s the other part—the one that whispers that HR doesn’t always protect the employee, especially when the boss has influence. What if they think I’m exaggerating, or worse, that I encouraged it? What if my nervous smile is later used against me as “proof” that I wasn’t uncomfortable? That thought terrifies me. Even my coworkers, who sometimes look just as uncomfortable as I feel, don’t say a word. I don’t blame them, because I know how much pressure we’re all under just to keep our jobs. But the silence makes me feel so alone. Instead of focusing on my projects and responsibilities—budget planning, deadlines, client presentations—I end up wasting so much energy just managing my fear of the next inappropriate comment.

I hate what this has done to me outside of work, too. That nervous smile has started showing up in other situations, like when someone puts me on the spot unexpectedly in a meeting, even if it’s harmless. It’s like my body has been trained to respond with false friendliness when I feel cornered. And I don’t recognize that version of myself. I value honesty, confidence, and being real with people, but lately I feel like I’m shrinking into someone who hides behind a fake grin. Maybe writing this here is a way of trying to reclaim a little bit of my own voice. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to confront him yet, but I don’t want to keep living in fear of his words or my own silence. So I’m asking you—how do you change that nervous smile into something braver? How do you break the cycle without putting your whole career at risk? Because right now, I feel like I’m balancing on a very thin line, and I honestly don’t know which way to lean. 🙏

ok not rn but in 2 years :D like everyone’s keep saying the ‘economy so horrible’, ‘no one’s hiring’ bro I don’t want to imagine how it will be in 2 years 😭 well it could be much better? Well like how should I prepare right now to get myself a job when I graduate??

I am 31 years old woman and I have been working since three years in a government center that manage the reception and also the returning of foreigners. In fact, my specific department is dedicated to the expulsion of persons to their country of origin, and in majority this means Mexico or Central America regions. Each day I face stories that are extremely human, sometimes even tragic, and I confess with no shame that I continue to cry very often after my working hours. I thought maybe with the time I would build kind of shield or hard skin, but it did not happen like that. Instead, I feel even more sensitive to the pain of others. I ask myself often, why some colleagues can make jokes about it or just continue with neutral face, while me I go home with heavy heart? Once, after accompanying a family of four to the airport, the young daughter gave me a bracelet made of colored threads and whispered, “please remember us.” How to not be moved by such words? That night I couldn’t sleep and I kept asking to myself if I am in the right job, if my tears will ever stop flowing, or if maybe it is normal reaction to continue to be sensitive after all this time.

In my way of thinking, sensitivity is not only a weakness, it is also a force that allows us to see the humanity behind the regulations and the bureaucracy. But still, I would like to learn how to be less affected, because depression is coming again and again in waves, and it is hard to keep motivation. Some days I sit in the restroom and I cry silent because I cannot show to others this fragility, even if in reality I am not ashamed, but more scared of being judged or considered incapable. Sometimes I try to use strategies like writing small notes of gratitude, reading philosophy or spiritual texts that bring comfort, like Viktor Frankl saying that “those who have a why to live, can bear almost any how.” This line encourage me, but in practice when I see another deportation case, my heart breaks anyway. What do you think, is it possible to keep empathy and compassion but without losing mental balance? Or is the only way to survive in such work to build cold wall around emotions? I feel very lost on this point, because I want to keep human but not to be destroyed inside every month.

I try to be hopeful, because I know life is also about learning from the suffering, and maybe in some strange way these experiences will help me to grow stronger. For example, I started recently to do voluntary activities in my free time, like teaching English to immigrant kids, and this give me positive energy to compensate the darker side of my job. It is like giving back something, even small, to balance what I take part in during the day. I also talk with my mother, and she reminds me kindly that “you cannot save everyone, but you can always treat them with respect and dignity.” That phrase stay in my mind, and maybe that is the key, to know that even in a painful role, I can give something decent like a smile or kind word. So I want to ask you, dear reader, do you think there is a method to be less sensitive without becoming cruel? Or maybe the true courage is to accept our sensitivity and find ways to manage it with healthier habits, like therapy or meditation or even just having more supportive friends around? I sincerely hope to discover balance, and I hope also to not lose myself, because despite all the tears, I believe that my heart can still be source of hope and resilience.

I am 27 years old, working in marketing, and I honestly don’t know if I am the one being too uptight or if my coworkers are just straight-up impossible to deal with. The thing is, everyone in my team seems to treat the office like a party venue rather than a workplace. I am not exaggerating when I say that most of them are openly on cocaine or some other kind of stimulant, and they almost brag about it, like it’s part of the culture or some badge of honor. They all walk around with this wild energy, talking a mile a minute, constantly patting themselves on the back for ideas that sound more like drunken rambling than actual strategies, and it makes me feel like I’ve landed in some parody version of the advertising world. To make matters worse, they act like they are untouchable and above everyone else, speaking in this arrogant tone and treating anyone who doesn’t play along with their nonsense like some boring outsider. I try to keep things professional, but it’s exhausting when I feel like the only one in the room who actually cares about doing the job right. Am I being unreasonable for wanting a little respect and focus at work, or is it fair to think that this behavior is totally out of line? I can’t tell anymore if the problem is me not fitting in or if it really is a toxic environment that no one should have to put up with.

I keep asking myself how to deal with them without either losing my mind or completely shutting down. I don’t want to come across as some self-righteous guy who thinks he’s above everyone, but I also don’t want to compromise my own values or end up enabling behavior that feels so wrong on a basic level. It’s awkward because I can’t exactly call them out—it would make me the target, and they already treat me like I’m too “serious” or “square” just because I don’t get wasted with them after hours. At the same time, if I stay silent, I feel like I’m giving them permission to keep acting this way, and it makes me dread going into the office every single day. I wonder if the right move is to distance myself as much as possible, stick to my work, and just let them crash and burn on their own, or if I should be actively looking for a way out of this company before it takes more of a toll on me. Have you ever had coworkers like this, people who are so wrapped up in their own chaotic world that they make you doubt your own sanity? And if so, how do you handle it without becoming bitter or completely detached from your job? Because right now, it feels like I’m stuck in a bad cliché, and I’m not sure how much longer I can play along.

Gius... I'm really starting to feel unmotivated. I'm 31 tomorrow and working in IT as a developer for that big electric car company everyone's always hyped about. You know the one, right? (yep, the one managed by a f*ck*ng naz*) I used to be so pumped about working here. I mean, it's one of those dream jobs for a developer and I learned so much! But lately, it's been feeling like a never-ending series of sprints with no finish line in sight. The pressure is crazy. There's this huge buzz about AI and how it's "the future," and everyone seems to think it’s going to revolutionize everything overnight. 🕒 But come on, let's get real here. AI might be smart, but it's not MAGIC. So they shove a ton of expectations on us to deliver futuristic stuff with deadlines that could turn your hair gray overnight.

Ever find yourself sitting in front of your computer, just staring at the screen? That's me on most days now. It's like an endless cycle of code, meeting, code, meeting – you get the drift. And with all this AI craze, it's just getting worse. They say, “AI will take over the world,” and I'm like, yeah sure, in a sci-fi movie! I have all these questions floating around in my head about whether I'm even cut out for this anymore. Am I supposed to suddenly master all this AI stuff or get left behind like I'm some tech dinosaur? Also, the pressure of innovation is brutal – they make it sound like one small mistake and boom, you're done for. Meanwhile, everyday life just keeps speeding by while I’m stuck in this work cyclone. Everyone’s trying to keep up with the pace, probably thinking, "Is this worth it?". How do you guys deal with all this when motivation just disappears?

I really find it weird that my financial situation should be an issue or where I stay or whatever... People should stop making such a big deal out of it unless they wanna settle down with me or some sht. Why would do that to someone you don't even have any interest with? Fcking ars. They should just mind their own business unless they wanna settle down with me all the background checks is useless!!! Wtf

i am 31 years old, and it seems like I've been wandering aimlessly through life without any real direction or purpose. no impressive qualifications, not a single diploma to my name, and it's like I'm stuck in some endless cycle of being judged inadequate and fired from one dead-end job after another. it's not just a single instance of bad luck either; it's a recurring nightmare, like clockwork, every few weeks. bosses look through me like I'm transparent, colleagues avoid conversation, and I find myself drifting back to the familiar disheartening embrace of unemployment. could it be that I am simply not good at anything?

it's not like I haven't attempted to excel at something. i've tried my hands at various trades, crafts, and roles, but each time, it feels like there's an invisible barrier that stops me from progressing beyond the rudimentary stages. people say practice makes perfect, yet even repeated efforts leave me stranded at mediocrity. it's downright humiliating and demoralizing to constantly fail at every endeavor. do you ever feel like life's a puzzle but you can't find any of the pieces that fit? it's like the world moves forward while i'm firmly anchored in place, unable to keep up, always a step behind the rest.

the social scene fares no better. no friends to lean on or have a beer with after another miserable day fighting the urge to give up. even my family, if you can call them that, are a bunch of self-absorbed nitwits who couldn't care less about my existence. if I dared to confide in them, they'd just wave it off as "my problems" without a shred of empathy or genuine concern. is it too much to ask for a single person who actually gives a damn about what's going on in my life? maybe even a semblance of encouragement every once in a while??? i'm aware i'm not some shining beacon of charisma, but a single friend would really make a world of difference. it's amazing how excruciatingly lonely life can get when you float around like a ghost that nobody notices.

i wonder how some people manage to glide through life so seamlessly when i'm perpetually stuck in a rut. is there some secret hack to success and fulfillment that i'm unaware of? considering the questionable state of my life, it's doubtful. i'm not naive; i know nothing worth having comes easy, but it feels like even when i exert myself, give it my all, I'm always falling short. always a few seconds too late, a dollar short, a skill under-mastered. my brain should be a vault of skills and knowledge by now, yet it seems disappointingly barren, rendering me unfit for anything beyond the bare minimum. sometimes the thought creeps in that maybe i'm just not cut out for this whole 'life' thing.

so here i am, punch-drunk with indecision and paralyzed by the fear of yet another failure. what is a purposeless man supposed to do in this chaotic world? maybe my supposed "indefinable potential" is more like imaginary bullshit i've been fed by well-meaning ignoramuses who refuse to accept some people are simply destined to drift. are dreams just illusions for the delusional, or is it possible there's a corner in this desolate maze where an opportunity might miraculously lie waiting??? i don't even know anymore. life feels like a game with no instructions, and i'm consistently losing. can anyone explain what the hell i'm supposed to do now?

Ok let me start off by saying I work for a nonprofit. a NONPROFIT. I've worked at the same place since I was 15 years old. im now almost 19. so I have lots of seniority over most of the work team now. anyway that's besides the point. our media and community advertisement lady just quit, good for her she was amazing and found a better job. But the new lady they brought in? I never thought I could meet a pettier adult with a damn child.

Let me start off by saying my boss hired her straight out of college. so she thinks she knows it all. great. keep it to yourself. when she first started we were working on opening a second smaller branch of our store that I now practically run. She wasn't doing her damn job and making up the appropriate flyers for it so I did it under the ok from my boss. she didn't like that. but whatever.

for comparison I work at this new branch 5 days a week all day from open to close. she works one half shift there every week. that's it. and she won't cover other peoples shifts but gets mad when no one will cover hers. If I forget to change garbages before I leave for my two days off? she will take pictures and send them to my boss. That was back when she worked the day right after me. now it has switched and I work the day after her. and guess what? she doesn't change the damn garbages either.

so I did something boardering stupid. I started a journal. every time she does anything to me I write it down with dates. every time I come into the store and no garbages are changed? I take a picture, timestamp it and print off the picture to put in the journal.

don't even get me started about our policies. as a nonprofit second hand store our main shoppers are seniors. they can't just take furniture with them that day. they need time to find help. but at this new store we can't do holds. I had this elderly couple come in one day and want this wicker love seat. they couldn't have lifted a pot let alone a couch. so I said sure id hold it.

the day they came and picked it up? the day this new hire lady was in. she told the entire staff what id done like I broke a law and left passive agressive notes everywhere aimed at me about 'no holding' like ok Karen then why are you putting shoes under the cash desk for yourself to 'think about' for a week? HUH?

my boss finally came in and did her whole 'we can't do that' speech and I accepted it. fine. my boss actually talked to me and didn't leave a passive aggressive notes for me. good. all clear right? RIGHT?

nope. she texted me like an hour later asking if we had a certain piece of decor. she was vague with the question and due to her job I thought she wanted pictures of it to post. so I asked her if she wanted it put aside. she immediately texted me back saying 'we don't do holds.' LIKE SERIOUSLY?! YOU WERE THERE WHEN OUR BOSS SAID IT!! So I texted her back to cover my own ass saying like I thought she wanted it for a post. THEN she texted me back like 'oh yeah someone messaged her and wanted to know if we had them' like she was trying to get dirt on me. so I screenshotted the text and added it to my journal. like seriously? she has a kid and is in her 30s and she's beefing with a 19 year old over stupid shit like this????

And now they had to switch her days cause none of our volunteers will work with her and the only employee that will work with her is only available Thursdays. that says a lot. 7 different volunteers plus me and two other employees won't work with her. you'd think my boss would see it right? She's been working here for 4 months or more.

im so done with it.

Now here's the question. Do I take the journal to my boss now? or do I wait and see if I can't get more on her then go?