Hello everyone,
I just thought I'd post here instead of other subreddits…
I recently had to quit my job as I was working in an extremely toxic workplace. During the meeting when I said I done working there, my manager did not even acknowledge what I said and kept trying to convince me to continue (3 x) and then even went as low as to say “but I don't want you to lose your benefits.” The reason wasn't because she cared, but because someone would not be doing her job for her…the entire organization is built on a pile of lies and corruption and I am sure she did not want to train another person to deal with her entire workload + my own. I could go on and on about how terrible it was in the office, but I have attempted to bullet some points to summarize below.
I experienced:
- being verbally abused by managers when I couldn't complete parts of tasks immediately upon their request. The tasks were all related to their own obligations that they simply refused to complete.
- staff members not speaking to staff members or acknowledging them after having a brief and trivial disagreement in a professional setting. This made continued collaboration and project completion nearly impossible.
- lifting boxes/cleaning/providing set-up for the opening of their new office for about a month. building chairs, cleaning offices, etc. This meant I did not do anything within my job description for a month after joining the organization. The projects I was trained in “fell off” and then were dropped back on to my lap about 8 months later.
- terrible leadership. The rules only applied to mid-level/entry staff and managers/executives were the exception to every rule regarding WFH and most other “rules” that were put in place. In fact, they made a point to come in 15 + minutes late to important meetings because of other “obligations.” They set a precedent where it included personal obligations as well.
- entry/mid-level staff were made to make up for all the work that all other staff simply refused to complete. by all…I mean ALL. manager would sometimes even be drinking wine at work while other staff fearfully worked to make up for large workloads they should never have even had in the first place.
- being yelled at in meetings and staff refusing to talk about the fact that it even occurred (feigning ignorance). but the org as a whole resorting to holding organization-wide meetings about self-acceptance, leadership, and transparency. simply put, absolute bullshit all around.
- holding 3 meetings to make an executive/manager feel better about their ego when they are upset about something as trivial as “tone” in an email
- deep lack of organization, corruption, and toxicity
There was a thematic shock factor to many of the odd things that we were made to do throughout my time there…hence why many people would quit within a month and there is a high turnover rate for staff in all departments.
I know that the common question would be: How was this accepted? Why does no one speak up? There was a simple air of toxicity and fear of being fired from your position.
The sad part was that most people who did stay longer than they ever should have…had moved from across the country or world to join the organization. As such, employees were stuck between a rock and a hard place and did not have the bandwidth to apply to other jobs due to the stress in the office.
Ultimately, I decided to quit and am now between a rock and a hard place. I have never quit a job on the spot before…but this was truly the exception and my only regrets are obviously related to my finances. My peers who quit were able to go back to their families and many came from a lot of wealth, so it simply gave them independence. Unfortunately, I do not come from this type of background.
My mental health and sanity were on the line and could not imagine how to begin my life again unless I left that place. I filed for UI and they want me to explain the work conditions as part of my file. I have a list of questions related to the conditions, but due to how toxic they are…I would not be shocked if they deny my claim. I have never filed and realized that my employer will have a chance to provide a rebuttal to my claims. I am not sure where to begin and am nervous to begin this process.
For those who are highly curious, yes this organization is based in Washington, D.C!
Does anyone have any tips on how to go about this in a way where I can win the “case?” I simply need enough funds to help me for 1-2 months, so I can move on from the hell they put me through!