I work in an office where we are made to compete with each other. We are paid the legal minimum and have an incentive scheme where the top two performers get £125 & £75 respectively at the end of the month.
One of the things that contribute towards the “points system” is turning up early & staying late, for example. Our employer expects us to work for free and do the job of 2-3 people for the mere possibility of getting paid an extra £125.
He genuinely seems confused as to why everyone is burnt out and nobody wants to help each other.
Before this “incentive scheme” came into play, people were much more willing to help each other out; now it's every man for himself.
It's a special kind of hell, especially when you can't stand their inane gossip at the best of times. You're not my colleague anymore, you're my enemy.