This company is the WORST place I have ever worked in regard to unwritten rules—I’m specifically speaking about the student success coach department. It’s a start up, and they outwardly champion employees (at any level) contributing ideas while mocking those who do. They’ll ask questions and not want an answer. They will encourage certain behaviors and then limit opportunities for those who follow their explicit instructions. Nothing they say means anything, it’s just “a nice thing to say.”
The job market is horrible right now and it’s extremely hard to get an interview, let alone a job… That said, I have heard several people from my department share that once they get ANY opportunity, they will leave.
I was very fortunate to learn from my team lead (via a group message to their entire small team, as well as reminders in one-on-ones) to not ask questions in the “big chat” of our team—where we were told to ask questions. My lead let us know that leadership was often irritated by questions that we “should have known the answers to.” Again, this is a start up, and things change regularly without written confirmation of these shifts. If you were in a meeting where it was mentioned, you knew. If you were out of office and missed the meeting, you might be told by a coworker later, if it comes up.
I learned most of this far too late and often feel like I’m still looked at (like, physically looked at) like I’m dumb. It’s infuriating and disrespectful. I love working hard and contributing. I have never experienced a workplace like this. The only saving grace is my coworkers. They frequently thank me for answering their questions/letting them in on what I know. We have built a lot of trust. It’s crazy, because it feels like we are just trauma bonding. I often catch people literally crying about this lack of clarity on expectations, and I can only imagine there are many more who feel this overwhelming anxiety who I do not see. I can only do so much, and it should not be necessary for our team to have to figure it out. It’s degrading and unacceptable, in my book.
Lastly, I will share that most of the toxic leadership (who judge us so harshly) are based in New York. ALL of our department’s higher ups who make decisions on promotions and give this feedback are there.
