ThingsWork0ut's journey

I currently work for a company that has a toxic culture filled with harassment, nepotism, cronyism, favoritism, and poor management. I moved to a new state and took this job as it was the first opportunity that allowed me to transition. Initially, it seemed like a decent role, but over time, I realized how dysfunctional the environment was. During my training, I was paired with an older coworker who quickly turned from a mentor to a source of harassment. After a couple of weeks, he began gossiping about other employees and making my work life miserable. I tried to distance myself, but he only escalated his behavior, making my days increasingly difficult. Despite this, I decided to work harder than anyone else, putting in the equivalent of four people's worth of effort and taking on 60 hours a week. Unfortunately, this only fueled his harassment further. I attempted to apply for a higher position, feeling qualified with the right education and experience. However, when management found out I applied and didn't get the job, they expressed their relief in a way that felt hostile. It became clear that they preferred to hire based on friendships rather than qualifications. After five months of being punctual and dedicated, I've noticed that most of my coworkers are consistently late and fail to perform their duties properly. It's shocking how this company is still operational, given the blatant issues it faces. They even have a policy against having phones at work, which adds to the oppressive atmosphere. I've been actively applying for other jobs because this experience has been nothing short of a nightmare.