3mo ago

is walking away the best way to deal with a work clique?

I've seen several posts of people asking for advice on situations like this with so many answers suggesting OP to fight back, document and contact the union, but this seems too much work for an unconvincing result, because there is no way a manager is going to fire an employee or a clique for a "he claims she claims" situation.

Manager, employer, even the union, will listen to you, play theatrics and change nothing hoping you forget.

Walking away, while making you feel like a loser, seems to be the sane choice long term. Cliques are gonna clique.

Maybe you can think of a better way?

13 comments

I don't even get it. there is a clique at work. so? what does that even mean?
- Yeah, the language here seems to fall outside what you or I think of as a clique. To me it essentially just means a group of people but clearly there has to be some other definition.
- I think it means Mean Girls who make fun of your outfit?
  
  A little more insight about the clique dynamic and ops relationship would be helpful here.
Fighting back, documenting and contacting the union usually doesnt work the first time but each time theres another incidence of something that could be considered inappropriate behavior the pressure mounts in your favor.
HR is there to protect the company, but once you can show a pattern HR is there to protect the company Once the cost of you potentially suing for them failing in their duty of care to protect you from workplace bullying and harassment is more than the cost of replacing the assholes doing it then they will act.
The biggest issue is with this that nobody is perfect, and you biting back one time or giving them anything to complain about you to management puts you back at square one.
Are your coworkers 16? I dont understand.
Maybe just be friends with older coworkers?
Do you work directly with any of these people? If so have a private conversation with who you work with directly about how you feel.
If you don't work directly with them, just remember the only thing these people have in their mean little lives is a bullshit job nobody gives a shit about.
Your ego will never help you at work.
Have you considered breaking one of their arms, and telling them next time you're taking an eye?
I mean, there's a chance you'll get fired and/or arrested, BUT!! If you can get through it, nobody messes with the psychopath at work! Hooch is crazy!
- Going by OP's post, their co-workers can't sue them; management will listen, the union will listen, but they'll do some theatrics and nothing gets changed in the end. Just break their legs :-)
- Now, this is some forward thinking. Straight into the solution! You only have to do this once. Pick the biggest jerk and enjoy it. Draw blood (metaphorically).
None of this makes any sense, and a LOT of detail is being left out.
What happened specifically? Say what you said and what was said back.
Huh? A work clique? That just sounds like a friend group to me so I’m not sure the huge deal. Especially if a solution is literally the ability to just walk away.
This is the second work related post I’ve seen today where it seems to be young people thinking work is high school again, which it isn’t. People are allowed to not want to be your friend. And if you’re in a union? Pffft just count yourself lucky, keep your head down, do your work and clock the fuck out. Work “friendships” are almost always the most hollow ones anyways.
Just be motivated by the pension I'm assuming you’ll eventually get to have and stop caring about the popularity contest.
Unless it’s a group of people actively bullying you and going out of their way to make your life hell..but again if you can just “walk away”, do so. Who cares
I don't know what you mean exactly, but walking away at the right moment, while projecting the right feeling, is the best way to win most unwinnable arguments

13 comments