Creating a good working environment
Discussion
Had an interesting chat with a colleague yesterday and it got me thinking about the few places I have worked and how the working environment can be so different and potentially get the best/worst out of employees.
I have to be a little bit careful about the current setup but lets just use the word Dickensian. Uber strict no talking allowed (really) people have been reprimanded for looking out of windows, wearing the wrong colour socks, not been shaven properly. Its horrible. Thankfully I'm not office based all the time so I dip in and out of it but it must be totally depressing to work in all the time. From what I see everyone is strict 9-5 nobody helps eachother and its a kind of every man for himself attitude. Backstabbing/snypiness/b
hiness is the only communication that goes on between people.
Contrast this to the place I previously worked which was for a web based company. We had an open plan office, approachable MD, no problem standing and having a cuppa and a chat. Dont recall anyone having so much as a crossed word in 3 years despite everyone being very busy. The result - virtually no sickness people on salary (me included) would come in at the weekends to help out in busy times for no pay oh and 10 years after leaving two of the directors are still amongst my closest pals.
I guess a lot is down to the bosses people management skills and personal style. Some people know how to get the best out of people and some just dont.
Whats your working environment/culture like?
I have to be a little bit careful about the current setup but lets just use the word Dickensian. Uber strict no talking allowed (really) people have been reprimanded for looking out of windows, wearing the wrong colour socks, not been shaven properly. Its horrible. Thankfully I'm not office based all the time so I dip in and out of it but it must be totally depressing to work in all the time. From what I see everyone is strict 9-5 nobody helps eachother and its a kind of every man for himself attitude. Backstabbing/snypiness/b
hiness is the only communication that goes on between people. Contrast this to the place I previously worked which was for a web based company. We had an open plan office, approachable MD, no problem standing and having a cuppa and a chat. Dont recall anyone having so much as a crossed word in 3 years despite everyone being very busy. The result - virtually no sickness people on salary (me included) would come in at the weekends to help out in busy times for no pay oh and 10 years after leaving two of the directors are still amongst my closest pals.
I guess a lot is down to the bosses people management skills and personal style. Some people know how to get the best out of people and some just dont.
Whats your working environment/culture like?
Nice, despite being quite busy at times.
The advantage is as a service company, we mainly work off-site, apart from a small administrative tail.
Consequently, we don't have to sit with the same people all day.
It's funny, as I spend so much time going in to other people's workplaces, I can definitely pick up on the atmosphere in offices.
Some offices just feel like horrible places to work. I think insurance call centre type offices have got to be the worse.
The advantage is as a service company, we mainly work off-site, apart from a small administrative tail.
Consequently, we don't have to sit with the same people all day.
It's funny, as I spend so much time going in to other people's workplaces, I can definitely pick up on the atmosphere in offices.
Some offices just feel like horrible places to work. I think insurance call centre type offices have got to be the worse.
Ours is open plan. A lot of us have no desk and have to hot desk. Things are quiet most of the time, either busy or worried the boss who sits with you or bosses boss is sat over the way. But it's ok. Everyone gets on. But bugger me its loud at times, so I disappear to drop in.
We're all on flexi and if I want I can disappear and drive my m3, I mean client visit. Ahem.
We're all on flexi and if I want I can disappear and drive my m3, I mean client visit. Ahem.
Quite an odd one I work in. Being a small network of shopping centre based units, the whole company communicates, for the majority of the time, via Skype.
Works for us. We have a good old banter most of the time. The boss is a good fella. Laid back but really hard working, which rubs off on all the staff. We all want the company to succeed and aren't just here for the money. We offer ideas and try out new things on our own back and get recognised for it.
Great environment for us to work in, although a little lonely sometimes when its quiet. We do try and get together for a knees up from time to time though.
Works for us. We have a good old banter most of the time. The boss is a good fella. Laid back but really hard working, which rubs off on all the staff. We all want the company to succeed and aren't just here for the money. We offer ideas and try out new things on our own back and get recognised for it.
Great environment for us to work in, although a little lonely sometimes when its quiet. We do try and get together for a knees up from time to time though.
I think an occasional knees up is a good thing. One thing thats totally missing from my current place is any kind of interaction between people outside work. I think an odd away day or even getting together for go karting or drinks makes for a smoother running office (provided nobody gets in a drunken fight)
A lot of cliques based on where you worked before - as i'm from the Banking arena i'm pretty much stuck on my own 
Will definitely check out the environment more carefully for my next move. There's been a few massive arguments (with lots of swearing) but people get on quite well. On the surface at least. As I work from home it's not a big deal, but I preferred it when I actually liked going out to the pub with colleagues.
Will definitely check out the environment more carefully for my next move. There's been a few massive arguments (with lots of swearing) but people get on quite well. On the surface at least. As I work from home it's not a big deal, but I preferred it when I actually liked going out to the pub with colleagues.Edited by fido on Thursday 10th January 15:07
sunoco69 said:
Mines like working in an infant school for retarded monkey's with the IQ of concrete slabs.
Mine too, its a good thing though, when your surrounded by incompetence being competent makes you look really really good. Not like im going to get rewarded for it though. Promotion/pay rise is by how much st you have on the end of your nose.Oh and the christmas raffle was fixed again this year, the top 3 prizes went to the 3 people who had arrange the raffle and were making the draw. The feigned suprise was hilarious.
Odie said:
Mine too, its a good thing though, when your surrounded by incompetence being competent makes you look really really good.
Only if the head monkey isn't so retarded that he thinks the other monkeys are always right and then does admit his error when proved wrong. If anything being right tends to hurt your case even as monkeys hate to be wrong!I think I shall apply for a job at Monkey World, it is only up the road. I would be MD inside of 2 weeks!
sunoco69 said:
Only if the head monkey isn't so retarded that he thinks the other monkeys are always right and then does admit his error when proved wrong. If anything being right tends to hurt your case even as monkeys hate to be wrong!
I think I shall apply for a job at Monkey World, it is only up the road. I would be MD inside of 2 weeks!
I was there once, my best advice is dont push, when your proved right just a little knowing smile at the boss. Some suggestions I made 3 years ago recently got regurgitated by my boss, just a little knowing smile with eye contact and he went bright red..I think I shall apply for a job at Monkey World, it is only up the road. I would be MD inside of 2 weeks!
fridaypassion said:
Had an interesting chat with a colleague yesterday and it got me thinking about the few places I have worked and how the working environment can be so different and potentially get the best/worst out of employees.
I have to be a little bit careful about the current setup but lets just use the word Dickensian. Uber strict no talking allowed (really) people have been reprimanded for looking out of windows, wearing the wrong colour socks, not been shaven properly. Its horrible. Thankfully I'm not office based all the time so I dip in and out of it but it must be totally depressing to work in all the time. From what I see everyone is strict 9-5 nobody helps eachother and its a kind of every man for himself attitude. Backstabbing/snypiness/bhiness is the only communication that goes on between people.
Contrast this to the place I previously worked which was for a web based company. We had an open plan office, approachable MD, no problem standing and having a cuppa and a chat. Dont recall anyone having so much as a crossed word in 3 years despite everyone being very busy. The result - virtually no sickness people on salary (me included) would come in at the weekends to help out in busy times for no pay oh and 10 years after leaving two of the directors are still amongst my closest pals.
I guess a lot is down to the bosses people management skills and personal style. Some people know how to get the best out of people and some just dont.
Whats your working environment/culture like?
So why did you leave the last place and why do you stay where you are?I have to be a little bit careful about the current setup but lets just use the word Dickensian. Uber strict no talking allowed (really) people have been reprimanded for looking out of windows, wearing the wrong colour socks, not been shaven properly. Its horrible. Thankfully I'm not office based all the time so I dip in and out of it but it must be totally depressing to work in all the time. From what I see everyone is strict 9-5 nobody helps eachother and its a kind of every man for himself attitude. Backstabbing/snypiness/b
hiness is the only communication that goes on between people. Contrast this to the place I previously worked which was for a web based company. We had an open plan office, approachable MD, no problem standing and having a cuppa and a chat. Dont recall anyone having so much as a crossed word in 3 years despite everyone being very busy. The result - virtually no sickness people on salary (me included) would come in at the weekends to help out in busy times for no pay oh and 10 years after leaving two of the directors are still amongst my closest pals.
I guess a lot is down to the bosses people management skills and personal style. Some people know how to get the best out of people and some just dont.
Whats your working environment/culture like?
Well sadly in my lot what you wrote equates to the following:
Open = Only thing open is the window. And they moan it is to cold!
Honest = hahahahahahahaha
Support = maybe if they are wearing a surgical truss!
Guidance = OMG! This consists of "I dont care if it cant be done, just do it"
Communication = I think the phrase is "couldn't even spell it if their lives depended on it"
I work with nice people but sadly they are spineless muppets and have no moral courage at all. I think it is my military background but I refuse to lower my standards and fail to see why I should. Expectations yes, standards no!
Basic line is if they were horses, I wouldn't breed from them.
Open = Only thing open is the window. And they moan it is to cold!
Honest = hahahahahahahaha
Support = maybe if they are wearing a surgical truss!
Guidance = OMG! This consists of "I dont care if it cant be done, just do it"
Communication = I think the phrase is "couldn't even spell it if their lives depended on it"
I work with nice people but sadly they are spineless muppets and have no moral courage at all. I think it is my military background but I refuse to lower my standards and fail to see why I should. Expectations yes, standards no!
Basic line is if they were horses, I wouldn't breed from them.
From the many places I've worked as a contractor, the better the coffee the better the working environment.
25p from a crappy machine for a plastic cup of tasteless brown water was the worst place for coffee and the worst place to work.
Free quality filter coffee, and free fruit morning and afternoon was the best place for coffee and the best place to work.
25p from a crappy machine for a plastic cup of tasteless brown water was the worst place for coffee and the worst place to work.
Free quality filter coffee, and free fruit morning and afternoon was the best place for coffee and the best place to work.
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