Workplace Drama

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?

What's a good advice when it comes to work?

The last time I was here, I talked about my struggles in getting employed as an autistic girl with issues that directly go against the expectations of a job.

Well, against all odds, I got one! And it's my dream job! Wow!

...or so I thought.

It's zero-hours, minimum-wage, because that's all I could get and I know better than to hope for more. That's not the issue.

The issue is that while my bosses are super accommodating and have tried to allow me my adjustments, I've come to find there are parts of this - and likely every job - that I just can't tolerate.

I come home exhausted and in agony from walking around every day even if I've been allowed to sit as needed.

Customers find fault with me no matter how pleasant I try to be (and then complain to my bosses instead of just telling me? why are people.).

The staff reactions to my existence vary from passive-aggressive judgement (not paranoia, I have caught them laughing at me) to constant verbal digs that I know won't be solved since the one responsible for that holds a lot of responsibilities in the company and I am far more replaceable.

There's a severe lack of routine and communication in a way that is mostly unavoidable due to the nature of the job, supply issues that cannot be easily fixed meaning I get the backlash when we run out, and everything is too loud and too much pretty much all the time.

I've tried my best, I've been there just over a month now, and I was hoping I'd be able to ease into it as we went but over time the cracks are beginning to show in a big and dreadful way. It's like I got everything I wanted, but it's all come out wrong and now it's hurting me instead.

I have no time for hobbies or even basic self-maintenance - I can't cook, I can't clean, I can't anything. I barely eat now - either no energy after work or so anxious I throw up before it. Showering happens only if I force myself to wake up early to do it. My room looks like a bomb hit it, and the sink is full of dishes that neither I nor my dad have the energy to wash.

I don't feel human, which sucks because I'd just got good at feeling human before all this - now I just work and then I come home and shut down until it's time to work again.

"So quit. Just leave, and find another job" - but if I quit I'm back to jobcentre hell and my emotionally abusive dad will never let me hear the end of how he was right that I'd fail at this job.

It's awful but it really doesn't feel like there's any 'good' outcome for me here. I wanted change and I got it, but now I want to go back to how it was.

It's just down to what I'm willing to tolerate more - this job or more years of jobsearching, which will be made longer by the fact I GOT a job, lasted a month, and then left.

I could stay in a job that I hate, that physically hurts me and saps all my energy for anything at all even on the shortest shift, but at least I get paid (until they decide to let me go, like every other place, probably, but we'll burn that bridge when we come to it.)

Or, I can quit, be tormented by my immediate family about it, and go back to soul-crushing jobsearch hell where there's nothing for me AND I'm paid far less, but I'm not in physical pain and I get to actually feel like a human person some of the time.

Neither option is good for me, but I worry I'm going to be pushed into choosing sooner rather than later, so I'd like your thoughts.

Soo, it was my first time applying for a job and it didn't go well. I submitted my application last Monday and when I went home I found out I gave the unedited cover letter, so I went back on Tuesday to resubmit the right one. Today, I emailed my application letter and resume then I sent it to the wrong email address, it was cc the first email was right but the cc was not. So I resend it again when I sent it I forgot to write the subject so I resent another one again. I just hope that they will email me back. Everything I did was a mess, I feel so stupid.

I can't keep up with this never-ending cycle of pandemonium at work. At 37, you'd think I'd have some semblance of balance between my professional life and personal sanity, but nope, not even close. It's like being caught in a whirlwind of task assignments constantly flying at me — deadlines, meetings, KPIs... you name it. It's like trying to juggle flaming swords while riding a unicycle; one misstep and everything burns. My brain is fried to the point where caffeine doesn't even make a dent anymore; feels like I might as well be IV-dripping espresso straight into my veins. ☕️

I've tried talking to my boss about this chaos, but their response is always the same spiel about how "we need to show hustle" and "it's just the nature of the beast in this industry." Give me a break. 🙄 Is it really necessary for every report to be ASAP? And why do we even need 47 meetings a week when half of them could be emails? It feels like I'm on this soul-sucking treadmill, and not in the hip, let's-get-fit kind of way. More like the absolutely pointless, "why-am-I-even-here" sense. I've worked in marketing for a long time now, long enough to know that while some stress is inevitable, this — this is beyond ridiculous. You ever experience those moments where you wonder just how far you can stretch yourself before you snap? I'm there, tiptoeing on the edge.

Last week, I almost lost it during a client pitch. The VP kept interrupting with her "constructive criticism," because apparently, needing to interject every five seconds with irrelevant noise is the highlight of her day. 😤 It’s like: "No, Karen, I'm sorry that you think adding a flashing neon sign with glitter would grab the consumer's attention more effectively, but we're not in Las Vegas, and things called 'design principles' exist." It's the never-ending condescension and micromanagement that make me question why I’m still here. I almost told her where she could shove her feedback, but instead, just swallowed my pride; because, of course, professionalism, yada yada. But what's the point of professionalism if it feels more like perpetuating a mask to hide the mounting fatigue? Sometimes I wonder if they see us as humans or just cogs in their money-making machine?

I debated making a change, like jumping ship entirely for something less demanding. But then, what if the next gig is just another version of this absurd rat race with a new set of faces? 🌪️ The imposter syndrome kicks in, and I'm left second-guessing every decision — is it me, or is this the norm now? Life wasn't supposed to be this monotonous grind. How can I break free from this overwhelming chaos and reclaim a life that doesn't require a mental triage every single day? If there's a silver lining, I haven't found it yet; and hey, if you've got any tips, I'm all ears. But if not, and you're in the same boat, know that you're not alone — we're screwed together in this never-ending abyss of work life. Offering virtual hugs to anyone feeling the same. 🤗

Being 27 and having always admired my older brother, who has built a remarkable career, it’s hard to see him struggle to find motivation at work. He's always been the overachiever, the one with the Midas touch in the corporate world. But lately, he seems to have hit a plateau, and it's tearing him apart. He used to love his work, thrived on the challenges that came with being a senior VP at a major tech firm, and could always see the "bigger picture." But now, it’s almost as if he’s lost his "vision board." I'm genuinely at a loss trying to figure out how to motivate him, and I find myself questioning, have I ever been truly motivational myself? 🤔

I've always believed motivation is like that surge of adrenaline that propels you forward. However, it seems my brother has overdosed on it in the past, and now his reserves are empty. Should I remind him of the countless TED Talks we've watched, where experts such as Simon Sinek emphasize the importance of "starting with why"? Would that work, or is it too clichéd? I can't help but wonder what his "why" might be right now. Sharing personal stories can occasionally spark motivation, but whenever I start reminiscing about the days he would narrate how he closed million-dollar deals, he cringes. The memory probably feels like a distant dream. It makes me ponder, can we still ignite the same fire with mere recollections?

"Communication is key" is a phrase that rings in my head, akin to a mantra. But every time I attempt to broach this sensitive subject, he shrugs it off with a dismissive wave and changes the topic to movies or politics. It's puzzling because this isn't the brother I grew up looking up to; he wasn’t one to shy away from hard conversations. I once read in an article by Harvard Business Review that a supportive environment and professional coach could restore dwindling motivation, but suggesting that feels like walking on eggshells. How do you recommend such resources without making it seem like you’re overstepping? Do I suggest books instead? 📚

Perhaps the work-life balance equation needs reevaluating. My brother's career has been marked by unwavering dedication, sometimes at the cost of personal time. I recall instances where family get-togethers were subtly interrupted by work calls, and he pulled away into another room under the guise of "just one email." Reflecting on this makes me question, could this lack of personal downtime have compounded into a formidable barrier against motivation? Recent trends in workplace culture advocate for "mental health" days, and maybe I should encourage him to explore that avenue. But does one just "push pause" on responsibilities without feeling a sense of guilt or abandonment?

In facing such challenges, asking for advice seems natural, yet solutions aren't always clear-cut. Everyone has moments when motivation evaporates like a benign cloud on a breezy day; it’s just my brother hasn't experienced this before. I’ve read countless anecdotes of people who found their zest by exploring new hobbies or volunteering. Perhaps motivating others starts with oneself; sometimes, it’s all about nurturing an intrinsic motivation that circumvents external validation. As I endeavor to support him, I can't help but introspect — am I helping him unveil a hidden facet of his potential, or merely trying to reignite a spark that should burn of its own accord? So, dear reader, any thoughts on how you might navigate this delicate terrain of motivating someone who once knew no limits???

Huh I knew it they are watching me whatever I post here they are reading it 🙄🙄🙄