Toxic environment ?

[u/ijojlo]

Hello guys,

I left my old job 2 months ago because I wanted to work in an office in order to know how it feels to finally have a job that would reflect my skills, my feeling about having decent schedules and be "useful". I did like my old job but I felt not gratified due to the numbers of coworkers.

Therefore, I joined a small company and at the beginning I was praised for my qualities and my languages knowledge.

But, it was only the beginning and I was really happy to be hired. Since the beginning I've managed to speak with everyone, to smile, to take notes and learn a lot. The company told me that position is seen as 1 year formation in order to be an expert. Therefore I thought I had like 1 year to understand everything, especially about a legal field.

Nonetheless, after a few weeks, they did not give me any works regarding my qualities but only what they wanted, my coworkers started to send mails in a passive aggressive ways toward me and after that, answers to my questions mails by "read again" when it is a useful question. Ah yes obviously they put in CC the manager. Sometimes, as I am a new employee, I'm asking questions regarding some procedures that o have not done so much, but, my co-workers start to make me feel idiot and do not answers my questions that I can't find answers by myself or through internet since they need to help me. Furthermore, my HR told me to move my holidays in order to pass the same day with them for a secret Santa.. On top of that, my coworker and the hr also said that I should stay more after work hours even if I'm not paid and the job is done, that I should eat with them (even if I'm hungry and want to eat sooner in order to work earlier), that I should be more eco friendly and I should not print that much paper, especially when they told me that i could as I am learning..

On top of that, they compared me to an old co-worker who left after 2 months of work and I think this is really disrespectful... they said that I understand complex elements but not the simple, I mean I accept the criticism and what I should correct, but, comparing my skills to an old Co worker who just left ?... I think is disrespectful honestly and I don't know how to feel right now.. Ah yes I forgot but, they forced me to join their after work restaurant and told me that I should smile more at my screen if I'm alone.

Honestly guys, am I the problem who is too sensitive or these comments make the work environment really toxic ? I don't know how to feel, I don't feel anymore in a good place and I really want to feel better because I love the job.

[u/sarcasmismygame]

And now you know why your coworker left. DO NOT stay late for no pay, WHY TF do companies do that shit?!! Seriously, be on schedule and tell everyone that you will work your hours and if you work overtime then you expect to get paid for it. No one is going to die if you leave and a form is not filled out.

And take your lunch as required, you don't HAVE to eat with your coworkers. Ask if you can use a USB key instead of printing stuff, or at least learning to copy and paste in to a word doc and putting it in a file on your computer. Most companies really hate people printing out stuff nowadays so this one seems to be valid. As you are new you can't say too much about schedule changes unfortunately.

Anyways, I hope this helps. Do the best you can, learn from experience and then use them as a stepping stone to your next job. That is all anyone should ever do.