Office Politik

It is with sadness that i realize that office politics exists in every work environment. As long as you work in an office, you cannot escape from it.

Recently, I thought that I had found an ideal working environment where there is no office politics and colleagues help one another out. I was wrong. Every moment we are watched and observed by others in the office. Regardless of whether we like it or not, we are constantly being monitored by others. Consciously or sub-consciously, judgements are being passed.

When you think all went well and you have a rare harmonious working relationship with your colleague, your boss informs you that one of your colleagues has 'commented' that you are chatting with people more than you should; that you should probably work harder because everyone else is working hard.

It gets depressing. It is one fact of life that you thought you have heard about and accepted. Sadly, acceptance only comes about when you have experienced it yourself.

The need to portray that you are always working hard during office hours is ever present. The constant need to maintain a certain image is always there. The constant need to cover your back is always there. Now i understand why people say that you wear a mask to work every day. Everyone does... It's hard to forge close friendship in an office. That's why secondary school and junior college school days are memorable.

Uncle Sam is watching......