as said previously I’m a nurse, which means the overwhelming majority of employees are women. Gossiping, being unauthentic, cattiness and passive aggressiveness is a daily occurrence.
My current unit: there are 2 men that seem to be completely stoic (I don’t know what word would describe them better): they ignore drama and jabs, even if directed at them, they are punctual with their pauses, I mean really, 30 minutes and that’s it, and can ignore when other coworkers lazy around, even if it means they have to be the ones doing most of the work, extra work they don’t receive any extra money or recognition for.
I am writing in awe, because as much as I’d like to be this thick skinned, I am not. The feeling of being treated unfairly rubs me the wrong way really fast. My strategy so far has been to lazy around so much as my direct coworkers, even if they’re part of an established group at the ward I don’t belong to. They’re the ones supposed to be showing me around and teach me. If they don’t work, why should I?
I believe this is a trait of mine, something nearly impossible to change, it would make more sense to change the setting than trying to change me, to change jobs. I don’t know how to play this game where I am, in a workplace where most employees are women.
But my question remains to all of you who are this thick skinned: how? I don’t understand it. Don’t you find it tiring? Doesn’t it make you feel like shit when you go back home? Don’t you feel taken advantage of?
In the show Severance, you have a innie and a outtie. That’s me.
My innie is here to do the work and make money. Sometimes my innie hangs out with coworkers. Or acknowledge their major life event. But innie does marketing work and adds more garbage to the garbage pile.
My outtie has a family. He loves his family. He takes them to plays and dinners and outdoor events. He paints and watches lame TV. He tells his wife how beautiful she is, his kids how proud they make him.
Their two lives are separate. Innie is focused, driven, direct, and some what of an asshole to get the job done. Outtie is loving, spends time with his family, and paints.
Am I thick skinned? No. Innie is just willing to suck corporate dick and do a song and dance so outtie can enjoy life.
Yecch.