negative work environment

[cloudsoup]

how do you deal with a jealous, passive aggressive or negative co-workers?

i deal with this on a daily basis. i realize that i shouldn't
take it personally and that the root of the problem lies within
the serious insecurities of others... but my kindness-shaped
knife just isn't killing 'em fast enough

[falcon9]

how do you deal with a jealous, passive aggressive or negative co-workers?

Depending upon the degree of severity of the problem, (ranging from 'personality conflicts' to actually interfering with the workload), I'd either cease interacting with them/reduce any interactions to the bare minimum required to get the work done or, continue to maintain a higher level of work performance than they could ever attain.  If those didn't affect them, sometimes total/complete silence would.

i deal with this on a daily basis. i realize that i shouldn't
take it personally and that the root of the problem lies within
the serious insecurities of others... but my kindness-shaped
knife just isn't killing 'em fast enough

Eventually, most people come to realize that 'killing them with kindness' is a much slower death than they probably bargained for, (that, and it doesn't work).   

[scollontrade]

I am 70 years old and the ONE thing I have learned about relationships at work or other areas of life is that there are some people that are going to do their best to make life miserable for me. I do try the kindness card to the max. If that does not work I limit my interaction with them as much as possible. However, eventually I had to decide to remove myself from that environment even if it meant living a different lifestyle. I am MUCH happier now. Good luck!

[brenspencer]

I worked at a place where the boss was nice to you but talking behind your back and every one else he was the drama queen of the work place did that for 3 months and then everytime I tried to take a vacation day I was entitled to he would tell me I couldn't for one reason or another. Every place has that person who likes to make the day as miserable as possible ignore and go on.

[kolathegreat]

how do you deal with a jealous, passive aggressive or negative co-workers?

i deal with this on a daily basis. i realize that i shouldn't
take it personally and that the root of the problem lies within
the serious insecurities of others... but my kindness-shaped
knife just isn't killing 'em fast enough

You need to first get saved and call on jesus then pray that get saved at work

[ckaliszewski]

I am lucky, I haven't really dealt with a bad work environment. I usually get along with pretty much everyone, which helps at work.

[Barbaralynne]

This is a tough one, I just started a new job and I have this problem too, management knows, but doesn't care. Some days I try the killing with kindness.Somedays I grit my teeth.

[hlvhome]

I agree that there will always be negative people, the best you can do it you have to stay in the situation is not let it effect you. Stay tru to your self, try to have little interation and be nice. I always try to remeber that I don't not know everthing about a person so I cant judge them. Good luck and stay postive

[falcon9]

You need to first get saved and call on jesus then pray that get saved at work

Although there's no way to know whether or not you currently work in such an environment, "kola", I have no doubts whatsoever that such overt proselytizing would be a cause of a negative work environment.

"Religion is based ... mainly upon fear ... fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty, and therefore it is no wonder if cruelty and religion have gone hand in hand . . . . My own view on religion is that of Lucretius. I regard it as a disease born of fear and as a source of untold misery to the human race."
-- Bertrand Russell
                          

[cloudsoup]

Depending upon the degree of severity of the problem, (ranging from 'personality conflicts' to actually interfering with the workload), I'd either cease interacting with them/reduce any interactions to the bare minimum required to get the work done or, continue to maintain a higher level of work performance than they could ever attain.  If those didn't affect them, sometimes total/complete silence would.

Eventually, most people come to realize that 'killing them with kindness' is a much slower death than they probably bargained for, (that, and it doesn't work).  

reducing the interaction did help for awhile. i was keeping
my distance, but she must have ran out of things to talk about
regarding me and needed new fuel for her fire, so she started
approaching me again recently with passive aggressive comments
and digging for any information she can get. it's both comical and
pathetic to watch unfold, honestly...

i definitely do maintain a higher level of work performance, which
i'm pretty sure is half her problem!

i've tried so hard not to let her get to me. i wish she'd give it up.

[falcon9]

reducing the interaction did help for awhile. i was keeping
my distance, but she must have ran out of things to talk about
regarding me and needed new fuel for her fire, so she started
approaching me again recently with passive aggressive comments
and digging for any information she can get. it's both comical and
pathetic to watch unfold, honestly...

i definitely do maintain a higher level of work performance, which
i'm pretty sure is half her problem!

i've tried so hard not to let her get to me. i wish she'd give it up.

Oftentimes, a complaint to H.R., (or the person's supervisor), may help, (or occasionally backfire).  I used to know a woman at work who would do this when bothered, (although I'm not personally recommending the method):

"The Voodoo Death Doll Hex"

During the time of the Waning Moon, fashion a poppet from red wax
and name it to be thy victim. Dress it with Destruction Oil and
sprinkle it with some Damnation Powder.

Await the time of the Dark of the Moon, and light a red candle
and some Incense.

In the flame of the candle heat a sharp thorn and insert it into
the poppet's heart.

Start mumbling a subvocalized chant, (pseudo-latin is nice), and every so often, whisper words like 'shadows' and 'upon my tormentor'."
*********

The results were hilarious and no valid complaint could be made against her since she left the candles & incense unlit, used unfolded paperclips instead of pins and white-out in lieu of "destruction oil and damnation powder".
 

[Tresbn00]

I would ask myself a few questions. Is there any way of ignoring them...or do you need to interract with them in order to complete projects?  Are there other jobs out there that would make you just as happy?  Have you followed the chain of command to see if they can intercede to create a better (and probably more productive) work environment?  The negativity that you are suffering from will carry into your personal life and start to detiorate the life that you have out of work.  It may begin to weigh on the quality of your work and ultimately end up costing you a job.  There has to be some proactive way of tackling this problem with out making it worse.

[cloudsoup]

I would ask myself a few questions. Is there any way of ignoring them...or do you need to interract with them in order to complete projects?  Are there other jobs out there that would make you just as happy?  Have you followed the chain of command to see if they can intercede to create a better (and probably more productive) work environment?  The negativity that you are suffering from will carry into your personal life and start to detiorate the life that you have out of work.  It may begin to weigh on the quality of your work and ultimately end up costing you a job.  There has to be some proactive way of tackling this problem with out making it worse.

yes, i can easily do my job and avoid her, for the most part,
unless she approaches me first. i keep the small talk very small
of course, and she eventually gets bored. she's just ruthless.
i enjoy my job otherwise.

luckily my manager is pretty fair and a good listener. i made
him aware of the problem a year ago when it started, and he's
told me if it comes down to it, he will make time to have a ''pow wow''
with all three of us. i just don't want to seem like i can't handle
myself... or come off as a ''whistle blower'' of sorts. but lately it
has sounded more and more like a good idea.



falcon9, hahah! you know, if i struck up a conversation with
her hinting that i was into witchcraft, she'd undoubtedly sprint to
the nearest coworker to spill the beans. the funny part is, she'd
sound like a nutcase, especially to those who think she has a screw
loose anyway. and i'd be doing this:



lol. i'm mentally noting this idea!

[mom2taz]

This is a tough one, I just started a new job and I have this problem too, management knows, but doesn't care. Some days I try the killing with kindness.Somedays I grit my teeth.

Same here....although I think our management does care....it's just the nature of the work environment...and not a battle they choose to address...too many bigger fish to fry....so i grit my teeth a lot...bite my tongue a lot....and laugh a lot....

one thing I am realizing....there are fewer and fewer younger people who truly comprehend what "work ethic" means....

[vicogden]

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em... try a little reverse psychology and give them a dose of their own medicine.  Then when they react "negatively" to your negativity, ask them how it feels...