When a bunch of malevolent, unfeeling, and inadequate people use their strength in numbers to beat up on or eliminate capable and independent co-workers, they will resist any attempts to call them what they are- a destructive gang or mob.
I've heard terms like "special friends", "the loop", and "____-buddies" (e.g. skiing-buddies, tanning- buddies, walking- buddies).
What's going on isn't skiing or tanning or walking. It's discussions of how to target and eliminate others on their ever-ongoing termination list.
Even the term "clique" summons up visions of a harmless group of like-minded people. As anyone who has worked or lived in the presence of one, it is far from harmless.
It really goes over the top when these "buddies" use the cover of these group activities to run company approved or sponsored get-togethers.
At one hotel I worked at, the front office mob had a special "snack table" installed in the back of the main desk. Anyone foolish enough to ask for a nibble of the goodies they openly displayed was accused of theft.
I saw what this whole thing was from the beginning- a big set up to ensnare and torture those who probably thought that this was a company endorsed thing. When I pointed out how abusive this was to the general manager, he looked at me like I had two heads. I found out other managers had left because of this clique.
Parties held at private residences of clique members were openly advertised on company bulletin boards, with the names of chosen invited listed in large, bold print.
Later pictures of these get-togethers were posted on the same bulletin boards, with the clique members often assuming similar poses. Think of the films Hitler had made of the Nuremburg rallies...
I found out that the clique was actually using company activity funds to partially pay for these soirees. After all, this was just a "book discussion" group!!
Have you witnessed similar things where you work? I noticed that even mentioning how odd of these things were tended to cause fear in those who were listening, eager to avoid the wrath of these jerks!
twiz(08/12/2007)
I watched a team at my old job completely ignore and cutoff a new guy they didn't like. He was a nice, completely capable employee... but for whatever reason they did not want him in their group. It could be his ethnic background... In any case, they basically caused him to quit since he was so miserable at work... The terrible part was that management even knew about and let it happen! A few months after the guy had left... his boss told me about how the ladies on the team just ignored and belittled him until he left... and he laughed about it. So glad I don't work at this company any more...
CookieHooker(08/13/2007)
YES YES YES YES YES!
There are major cliques in my office... the sacred inner circle like Catbox's....
my example is that last week my grandmother died and I had to travel out of state for her funeral, which I was singing at, and I was required to give the obituary (I had to be mentioned in the obit - so glad my mother was writing it as grandchilden are not usually called out by name) and the furneral flyer, showing I was listed as part of the serivce.
The secretary who is in the "sacred inner circle" took the same amount of time off for her aunt's funeral a few months ago and wasn't required to produce ANY documentation. Yes I asked her!
dontask :((08/13/2007)
Amazing.
Sorry for your loss. It' so heart wrenching to lose someone and having to prove it.
Freedomringer(08/14/2007)
Every work place holds one of these cliques. They are usually led by women who are jealous and hateful of people who are different from them or are competent or won't join in mobbing someone and gossiping. They are dangerous and have ruined peoples lives.
HaveADamnNiceDay(08/15/2007)
I HATE behavior like that with a PASSION!!!! These types are always found whispering to each other at desks, in the hallways, at the water cooler... I can't stand that kind of nonsense! And why is it always women doing this???? They're making us look bad!
avid reader(08/15/2007)
Just like the movie Heathers! =)~
dumber than a catbox full of sh*t(08/15/2007)
Thank-you, Have a Damn! I hate it when women are so against one another!
dumber than a catbox full of sh*t(08/15/2007)
And Cookie Hook--I have 2 personal days coming and according to contract we can not be asked why we are taking them--I'm planning on taking them on the worst possible day for my Boss:)
SouthernProgrammer(08/16/2007)
Yep, we had one also. In our case we called them "The Untouchables" as they truly believed they were untouchable. The 'Untouchables' would golf together and would arrange off-site meetings on golf courses. One of them ticked off a manager who was not part of the group and that manager was promoted to a VP position. The new VP began demanding status reports and calling them on the carpet for legitimate issues within their divisions. Within two months all members of the "Untouchables" left the company voluntarily.
the confessor(08/17/2007)
Sp, you point out some important things...that these people can be ousted if called to account, and that legitimate issues of non-performance or incompetency surround them.
Also notice how they leave one-by-one as their power base disappears. That's the ultimate pledge of Da Clique-y Code: you fire one of us, we all leave...
CookieHooker(08/17/2007)
I hope the pledge you fire one we all leave holds true to when one quits.... one of the clique left, but she's not really gone, still calls every day, still stirs things up every day and I'm beginning to think there is crazy glue on my boss's chair because she's determined not to leave!!!
(08/17/2007)
the confessor(08/18/2007)
This is a classic passive aggressive response. When our sleazy secretary was eventually ousted, she used to make little return "visits". The purpose was to spread gossip and cause as much trouble as possible. When I found out she was there, I confronted her and asked what her business was. Joined by another manager, we told her to leave, or the police would be called. She literally inched to the door in a snake-like fashion before leaving for good.
These folks have deep emotional issues and anti-social tendencies. Change the locks, call security, whatever-but ban her from your workplace FOREVER!!!
JobSchmobber Community Comments
dumber than a catbox full of sh*t (08/11/2007)
Yes--where I work we call it "the inner circle". If you are in the inner circle, you get all the perks and if you are not in the inner circle, you are abused, mistreated, etc....
dumber than a catbox full of sh*t (08/11/2007)
Let me give you a typical example: if you are in the inner circle and take a sick day, you are not asked for a doctor's note. If you are not in the inner circle and take a sick day, you must have a doctor's note or your pay is docked.
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