8 hours

The hard thing about work sometimes is that you have to be there for eight hours.  Sometimes just getting to work is difficult and dealing with difficult people you work with can be dreadful.  Below is a an article that can help with dealing with difficult co-workers and find ways of getting through your day.

http://www.oprah.com/money/How-to-Survive-Dysfunctional-and-Difficult-Co-workers 

Resource to Dealing with Bullying in the Workplace

I am sure most of us have dealt with bullying at work.  This blog was set-up to serve as a resource for those who are dealing with difficult issues at work.  The article below is an excellent resource for anyone dealing with bullying issues on a day to day basis in their work environment.  I hope you all find it resourceful and that it sheds some light on guarding yourself from this in your office.  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-michelle-callahan/work-bullies_b_833977.html

Workplace Cliques

Cliques are mainly seen in high school and due to popular belief they usually dissolve after you graduate.  In some cases the only thing that changes after high school is that cliques just change environment from high school to the workplace. Another difference between a high school clique and work place clique is age and probably a couple of pounds.  Most of these cliques are responsible for the creation of most gossip and dysfunction that happens in the office.   Workplace cliques are usually made up of people who share the same ideas and beliefs or you might have that one person who manipulates those who belong to his/her clique to believe what he/she says and like a little Hitler he/she can control the ambiance of the workplace and those around him/her.  This little Hitler can manipulate anyone and most of the time he/she has the most control of  the boss.  Most cliques at work don't take well to newcomers and usually shun those who have their own opinions.  A non-conformist in this type of environment can be shunned and even put in bad graces with the boss.  This can make life hell for the rest of the office.  These cliques can be vicious and make those around them feel worthless and very uncomfortable.  These groups of individuals in the workplace are not conducive to a good working environment nor are they healthy to be apart of.  As a professional it is highly recommended you DO NOT partake in these cliques.  There are professional ways of acting in the office that are both productive and healthy for others you work with.   

Now I know most of us have dealt with this problem at some time in our careers.  What can one do in this case?  Well, this is where office politics come into play.  You cannot fight off these people all on your own.  You need to strategically play your cards well.  Limit your interaction with these cliques.  Only discuss things pertaining to work issues.  The least you interact with the members of your workplace clique the better, that way you are neutral and don't confront any gossip or be involved in their issues.  Workplace cliques enjoy feeding off of your personal problems and  your problems and issues are a  nutrient to ensure their survival in your office.  The least you disclose about what happens in your life the better.

Working with these types of cliques can be very difficult and at times exhausting.  Always remember to surround yourself with great energy at work and never allow your beliefs or opinions to be discarded by people who don't have a spine and go with what the office Hitler thinks.  You are a person who counts and no one should ever make anyone in the office feel like they are not part of the inner circle because you have chosen not to be part of their clique.  Regardless of what you do..... empower people, smile, and the most important attribute you can have is self confidence and maintaining your own identity as a person.  Maintaining your own identity and not partaking in these workplace cliques is one of the most professional things anyone can do.  Blessings!

Why Workplace Toxicity?

This blog was created for those people who have ever held a job where they felt dread to get up in the morning and go to work.  Why Workplace Toxicity?  Well some workplaces are so toxic that if you are a non-conformist or an individualist this can be a horrible place for you.  As a sociology student and one who loves studying dynamics of how the workplace works, I find this fascinating.  The hard thing is that I have held various jobs where the environment has been so toxic that your boss and the people around you wear you down and make you feel so horrible about yourself that there is no way out.  I am sure I am not the only one that has gone through something like this.  With that in mind this blog was created for people to share their stories and find various ways of confronting these workplace issues and hope that this can help and allow people heal from the toxicity that your boss or co-workers have created.