#toxicenvironment

It’s a fcking sweatshop.

Regardless of whether you are currently in the latest round of layoffs or simply anticipating your turn on the chopping block, consider this thread a sanctuary for our shared grievances. Channel your hatred, humiliation, and the injustices inflicted by your dim-witted yet treacherous and repulsive (desi) colleagues, and manifest them as curses here. Together, our concentrated malice will surely invoke cosmic intervention to cleanse.

I've worked some bad jobs before but nothing even comes close to what this place has done to me. The leadership is awful, the managers are worse, and I genuinely don't recognize myself anymore after dealing with it all. It's taken such a toll on my head and my confidence that I'm not sure how much longer I can keep showing up like nothing's wrong.

I don’t know when work turned into everyone trying to prove they’re the last one who should be cut, but that’s what it feels like now. People chase approval, grab credit, and act friendly until there’s a chance to make someone else look bad. It’s draining.

The worst part is that this isn't accidental. When leadership rewards this kind of behavior, people learn fast. I'm relatively new in my career but if this is how it's always going to be, well fu-k.

Am vomitting

I wanted to share my experience working within the Belk IT department. I have been out of this position for some time, but from what I’ve learned, it hasn't changed and it has somehow gotten even worse. While store employees face their own set of challenges, the backend IT support structure is completely dysfunctional and treats its tech workers with an absolute lack of respect.

To start, the geographical territory assigned to a single IT field worker is massive and brutal, often matching the exact same coverage area as a Regional Vice President (RVP). Despite this massive responsibility, the compensation is insulting. The pay is so far below industry standards that it rivals fast-food wages. Because of the vast territory, you are forced to travel anywhere from 30 minutes to over 3 hours just to get to a location. This makes the role completely unsustainable for anyone with a family or anyone who values a healthy work-life balance.

Once you actually arrive at a store, the execution is a joke. Nine times out of ten, a field tech is forced to escalate an issue because our on-site capabilities are severely restricted. You are then left waiting for hours just to get a response from a clearly apathetic corporate support team or an offshore team that is incredibly difficult and tedious to communicate with. Furthermore, Belk’s Point of Sale (POS) systems are completely unreliable, and actual application support is virtually non-existent. As a result, the standard "fix" is to completely re-image the machine, forcing the tech to sit around waiting hours for the process to complete just so the store can finally use the register again. And don't even try to complain or share what you've noticed with your manager. They know what's up and will never care. Ever.

There is so much more dysfunction I could detail, but I want the store employees to know this. When you see an IT person walk into your building, understand that we are miserable too. The only motivation corporate provides is an empty "thank you" from someone who never even shows up to the Teams meetings. The managers shares it with us as if we are impressed by that, and as if verbal appreciation pays the bills during a time of massive inflation and a harsh economy. The only real thanks I needed was the final good riddance to this joke of a workplace.

Thinking about self harm everyday I go to work. This place is so toxic. Not asking for help. But, giving a fair warning. This place will eat your soul and sp-t it out as if you were nothing.

I don't understand this ever-increasing corporate need to make us all miserable. Being invested would surely make us more creative and productive. But nah. Instead, make us hate our jobs, our managers, and the company. I absolutely don't care about team dynamics or outcomes. I don't care if I have this job tomorrow. So I have no skin in the game. And I'm dedicated accordingly.

In what was once a somewhat protected role, we are now being told that the EA roles are now changing to a worldpay model. I’m fairly new to Global Payments and I’m worried about my job now. This place is toxic and creates anxiety for their employees. I work with a great bunch of admin gals (and some admins guys) but I’m feeling the anxiety of what others feel when they don’t know what’s to come.

I've switched jobs three times in the past eight years, and every single time, I've ended up in the same kind of miserable, backstabbing environment - here included. At some point, you start to wonder if it's bad luck or if this is just how every workplace is designed to operate now. Ramp up the toxicity to make sure everybody stays in their place.

A toxic workplace is when you're always scared of a pay cut or getting let go. It's when your manager won't stop hovering over every little thing you do. And it's when management rewards the people who tattle on coworkers for the tiniest mistakes. Sounds familiar?

Culture deterioration, low morale, key talent leaving, remaining employees being overworked... They've created a recipe for disaster with layoffs and constant toxicity and there are plenty of signs it's slowly destroying the company but nobody seems to notice or care.

As an ex Ambetter UM who recently got the RIF treatment, I can tell you no one here really cares about anyone except themselves. CenTEAM is just an internal marketing tool to keep the grunts going. I thought I had made some real lifetime friends here. But after I was given my notice, my “CenTEAM” treated me like I had the plague. I hope everyone who actually cares makes it out as soon as they can

How do you deal with it?

From Intel employees who believe that it’s helpful for just be purposely unclear, purposely unresponsive to their peers. Management should fire these fu----s

For those that keep asking the question about more cuts coming, the answer is yes!

https://www.tmonews.com/2026/05/leaked-timeline-suggests-t-mobile-is-nearing-an-all-t-life-future/?amp=1

I’ve never worked in a more toxic department in this bank in my entire career here than Corporate Payments Systems. The management in the group are a bunch of vile survivalists who will gladly throw their employees and colleagues under the bus if it means their own survival. I have seen a myriad of talent abused and released from this specific group if they are a threat to their manager because they are talented or are not part of the favorites list. Absolutely sickening culture of cronies in this line of business. Shameful, and the spineless management who reads this board in CPS, you know who you are and deserve everything bad that comes back to you.

I know it feels like all jobs are like this sometimes, but they are not. There are so many better places out there than the toxic dump that Nielsen has become, and you deserve to find one. Don't let this place convince you that this is as good as it gets.

I have put up with being underpaid and overworked for years because I am used to it. But my new manager has crossed a line. I refuse to be yelled at and bullied every single day by someone who only got his job because he knows how to flatter the right people. I am too old for this nonsense. I don't have anything lined up, but I'm going to give my notice next time he gets into my face.

The constant layoffs, getting treated poorly, the “f* you attitude, acting like vipers, the politics, blaming all from management builds an incredibly toxic environment that we have become products of. When we push back and act short, direct and have the same “f” you attitude management needs to stop clutching your pearl necklaces. you built this, you made this environment. Do you not think we can’t get new jobs? We can, but not before we tell you to go “f” yourselves.

It might not stop there though. We are living in a very dangerous world and it’s important our managers watch their steps.

Remember - you made us.

To all the outstanding employees and those exploited by this company have a wonderful long weekend.

To all the executives, and their concentration camp commandants, the hr hall monitors,

You don't deserve it. When your kids cause a scene somewhere and you get exposed for your incompetence as human beings, in that moment you should realize that your work persona is fake and your perceived competence only exists inside the walls of us bank. Nobody respects you inside the company either, but they are paid to pretend.

Leave if you have the chance.

Our group runs on pressure, politics, and people watching what they say, but the second somebody higher up appears, suddenly everyone’s smiling and pretending this is a great place to work. I never understand the performance because it’s not like executives would even care how employees are actually being treated. What's the point of the theater?

I've worked in some difficult environments before, but nothing has prepared me for what this place has become. It feels less like a company and more like a dystopian novel where nobody's safe and nothing makes sense.

It’s been exactly one year since my short meeting that ended my time at USAA. I stopped by here to see how things are going, and all I can say is I feel bad for everyone still stuck there. Even when I left, getting work done was already a nightmare, and from what I can see, it’s only gotten worse since then. If you can, I’d seriously suggest trying to leave. My layoff ended up being exactly what I needed to get out of a toxic place and find something where I don’t dread even the thought of work.

I just started my career at Nike and I think I made a huge mistake joining. My manager is impossible. Every week he either ki-ls our ideas, adds random nonsense to our projects, or just criticizes for no reason depending on his mood. He doesn't understand the technical work but tells us how to do it anyway. Then later he asks why we did it that way. He interrupts everyone constantly and yells at least three days a week. I'm so tired. Is this the norm when it comes to managers here?

I used to think stress was just in my head, but now my body is telling me otherwise. I have constant headaches, trouble sleeping, and no energy. My doctor asked if I was okay at work. I didn't know what to say.

The layoffs are always happening. The changes never stop. The goals are made up. Nothing makes sense. I've never seen a place so consistently designed to make people miserable. I think they want us to quit.

In fact, I wish I’d left sooner. I stayed because Verizon still had this reputation that made it sound like a career making place to work, and everyone around me kept reinforcing it. Looking back, I spent years putting up with bad leadership and a toxic environment because I thought the name alone made it worth it. The hardest part is realizing how much time I burned before accepting the place had changed a long time ago.

Even our doctor is getting replaced with a Indian. Seriously, how is the mental health at this company? Every coworker i know in the past doesn't talk any longer, its like everyone is zip. Absolute worst company, and worst treatment of humans of any company i've ever worked.

I wonder if I committed mortal sin in a past life and my sentencing is being stuck at this company

Now I think they actually enjoy it. The cruelty isn't a side effect. It's the goal.

My department has a lot of deadweight and has been toxic/hostile since the start of the pandemic. I was hopeful there would be some clean up with the RIF but it doesn’t seem like we’re part of it since most of us are low level.

The head of my department appears to have been publicly demoted but that seems like the only impact. We’re back in the office full time but we’re not developers or project manager. What’s the point of us going back full time if the in office weeks will stay the same?! It’s impossible to get work done in the office because of how bad the culture is.

I’m kind of devastated. I was honestly hoping for better days after how much of an impact the last few years have had on my health.

Abby, you win. I am going to try to leave. I woke up thinking about how bad things are.

The reality is that T has far more FTEs than the other guys. I totally get the need from an operating expense perspective to reduce headcount but the reality is the work still needs to get done. Having said, that contractors will be where the work ends up so there are still jobs out there, probably working for a company with a less toxic environment.

Toxic culture lies at the root of the challenges BD is facing today. How did it begin? It started with bias in hiring. Individuals with limited capability were brought in and eventually promoted into leadership roles. These 'leaders' have created an environment where people no longer feel safe sharing honest opinions. Add rampant corruption to that. 'Leaders' have hardly any sense of integrity.

Over time, the situation has only worsened, and there’s little evidence that BD is taking meaningful action to address it. Business teams lack a clear understanding of how operations actually run, while technology teams tend to hide behind jargon rather than communicate effectively.

It’s unfortunate that a handful of poor hiring decisions have led to this level of dysfunction—something we proudly refer to as the “BD Way.” As long as this “BD Way” continues, meaningful change at BD will remain out of reach.

So mismanagement loses the Marriott account and immediately out come the travel cuts! I don't think we will T&E our way out of this poorly run company! Does stopping manager travel and meetings, training events, back filling roles send the right message? How about stripping Senior Leaders bonuses? Those bloated million dollars payouts for poor performance? And if you say we will lose them so be it there has not been a strategic decision made in over 5 years! Funny how we blow smoke up everyone's butts on Town Halls but behind the scenes we do this cr-p!

This is a great place to work and has such a bright future ahead with Transformation well underway. It is so great, that we have had over 400+ employees quit on their own, so far. It is expected that at least 50% + of the Calgary campus will quit or leave in the near future. End result = lower cost of moving.

Not only does the company recognize it, but they embrace it! There is an ICN (former NAP) event coming soon, titled "Head Shots". For only $7.50, they will get a photographer to provide you with a professional Head Shot, perfect for an updated LinkedIn Profile so that you can look amazing as you browse for your future new Job (somewhere else...).

We are so effective in creating a toxic workplace that most people want to leave now if they haven't already... To sweeten the deal, they will help you "look" your best for that new job. The final cherry on top, they are so generous and now offering EARLY relocation options to Edmonton. So thoughtful and considerate.... Wonderful. Bravo.

If you know your stuff, you'll solve any technical problem. But you can't fix toxic. You can't fix dysfunction, disrespect, or incompetence. The people who actually do the work get undermined, questioned, and suffocated by a culture engineered from the top. I've never stressed over a task, sometimes I've even been proud of the outcome. But I dread coming in because of the people and the sick, bloated beast this company is.

the most overlooked dynamics in a toxic workplace is the clash between a high performer and a su-ky mgr…

on paper, it doesnt make sense. Here u have someone who is proactive… engaged, and solution-oriented reporting to someone who should want exactly that. But the tension isn’t really about intent… it’s about how they fu--ing operate.

Hi performers focus on outcomes. they question inefficiencies and suggest improvments…. Su-ky ineffective managers, on the other hand focus on control. they avoid risk, interpret questions as pushback, and spend way too much energy covering for their own shortcomings.

so when a high performer tries to make things better, the manager doesn’t hear the idea. they hear that they’re doing something wrong…that’s where the toxic cycle begins. instead of engaging with the idea or the solution their focus shifts to the person presenting it.

from there, it usually goes one of two ways. the high performer keeps pushing, keeps offering ideas, and gets labeled as difficult. Or they go silent, stop questioning, stop contributing beyond what’s asked, and get labeled as disengaged and utter sh-t.

from the outside, both look like problems. but they’re not. they’re what happens when confidence meets insecurity.

if you’re a high performer at WFB dealing with this, the right environment won’t make you feel like you need to shrink just to survive or be effective…

Outside of now being a toxic place to work, has anyone come across a mgr or VP that should be reported to HR?