Do your coworkers (re)act like children?

We are differently wired. Therefore we cant be expected to act or react in similar ways. Granted though, there are days when everyone is out of sorts and tendency is that we seem to get in each other's way. But generally, the workplace with all its idiosyncracies can be fun.

I am a manager of an office environment that most days feel like I am running a day care. One complains about perfume while the other is spraying it obnoxiously just to piss the other off. That is only the start of it. We do the best we can to try and head this stuff off and "catch" them in the act when they are doing inappropriate things. I just wish these ladies would act like they are 40 and 50 years old instead of 4 or 5.

What about the Mediator? I think the inherent collapse from maturity into our childhood "dramas" happens everywhere. Any time anxiety increases an adult is more likely to regress into reaction-mode rather than stay in thinking mode. The anxiety is highly likely to manifest at work, which definitely makes this article very relevant. I also think women are more likely to suffer from this due to the fact that women are more emotional thinkers where as men are consistently more logically-wired.
Great article!
~Peace

Ha, men as more logical thinkers versus women. I find that laughable, considering that the guys at work get reprimanded for being impulsive instead of thinking of the logical solution to problems dealing with people!! I don't think we can generalize, it depends on the individual.

This is too funny. I work in a construction industry and there were days here, that these guys would get into a full on pi**ing match with each other. By which i mean screaming, breaking things, slamming doors, ect. It was quite entertaining.

Hey 80'sgirl----I was here in the construction office about a year ago and these bafoons were trying to find the broom to clean up a mess. Well, they couldn;t find it, so one of the guys came to me and said they couldn't find it and where had I parked it the last time I flew on it. It's a very good thing I have a warped sense of humor or I might have shown him where I would park it the next time. LOL!!

I'm also in the construction field, but with the major cut backs theres really not many of us left (we went from 9-in the office to 3)
so fortunately we get along. except on the days that they tell me "why are you such a bitch today?" LOL hey what can i say i do have bad days too you know!!!

Phoenix 8 hours 18 minutes ago

I also think women are more likely to suffer from this due to the fact that women are more emotional thinkers where as men are consistently more logically-wired.

Phoenix, banish this idea from your mind, because it's not true. Haven't you read the other posts about men who are slamming doors and breaking things? How is that logical? People are people; we have similarities and differences.

We should also banish the word "management" and start talking about leadership. I don't need to be managed. I'm perfectly capable of doing my job without a babysitter. In fact, all those people do is get in my way and interrupt my work flow. However, every organization needs good leadership.

People who are deliberately antagonizing each other, are rude, and/or hostile need to go. There are people out there right now begging for jobs. There's no excuse for allowing people like that to continue working somewhere. (Unless, of course, the managers have similar attitudes and are easily intimidated by anyone who would actually be good at their job. I've worked at places like that before too.)

I am at work deciding whether to laugh or cry after reading this. Boy do I have some work ahead of me.

This makes so much sense! Think of all thetimes you've heard people or co-worker say people at work are a like their second family or just a family. Naturally, people fall into familial roles. Explains so much!

The owner of the company I work for throws tantrums like a little girl!! Ha ha ha. When he does it, I just tell him to go away and come back and talk to me when he calms down. I have to keep from laughing in his face. He's funny!

Before my position ended, I left instructions on how to do everything related to my job, very positive to all, and during the first couple of weeks, a couple of calls, nothing major and I was glad to answer.
Funny thing though, out of sight out of mind. I was OK with it because I realized how much drama those people lived and I got tired of hearing it while working there. As others mentioned, I went in and did my job, very little socializing outside of work because the owner would be a nasty drunk
in social settings, and more than once I had to get him out of situations; his assistant at one event was ' making some time' with someone she would NEVER have considered if sober...
I believe in treating people the way I like to be treated, that is with dignity and respect. These former co workers do not understand that simple concept and that is OK.

YES. I work with a bunch of backbiters. An elderly lady who works with us isn't happy unless she's in the breakroom tearing everybody down she can. She's always making fun of people, saying hateful things, and then she wonders why people get $issed off at her all the time. I work with this alot in my department. That's why I keep mostly to myself because I can't stand the fingerpointing and backbiting. They all need to grow up. Hope everybody else solves their co-worker problems too!!!!

Yeah, in short, Work is adult day care. The women are atrocious, whiny, territorial, and two-faced. I kind of like working with men instead, some of the times. Less crap and drama.

ROFLMAO I was the only female in the field for our company and I SWEAR men are the WORST gossips..there were a couple guys that I asked if they needed tampons, it was a running joke..oh..leave Jack alone his period started..They used to argue about who had the best tools..ummm not that tool..well yeah they argued about that one too Now I work in an office and sometimes I miss working with the guys...People who have not control over their home think they come to work think they can run other people crazy..Child pull ease! I used to run millon dollar jobs and never had to raised my voice or try and belittle someone..Ok I raised my voice once when the guys got into a pissing match..I calmly asked them to please STFU

I work with a chic that has no manners! popping of the gum, passing gas and burping really loud. She like to tell people they have no butt, or your hair needs dyed your gray, she can dish it out but cant take it. she has not talked to me in 2 weeks (i'm not complaing at all) she told i had a flat card board butt, i said at least i dont look like im getting ready to deliver any minute - IT WAS AWESOME!

So tru Sophie'sMom. We were a family at my office. All of us were hundreds of miles from home on a construction job, so, we were all each other had. Sure we complained about each other and yelled at each other, but in the end, we were family. I am going to miss that, now that this job is over.

Yes so true, But I feel you should be the mature person and be the biger person, and just let it go. and do you'r job as best as you can. if you are you're own boss. and feel there are haven problems talk to them apart from every one else, and get some help for them. if they are not doing there work. then you dont need them wasting everyonces time for the person's that are working. on the job so they can be more productive. also some times it does help to just hear them out you dont no what happen to them befor they got to work and need some one to tlak to.

An office with a good, experienced manager will not see those types of behavior (aside from the occasional lapse which the supervisor deals with immediately). I've been a manager (a fairly good one) and worked for many (some good, some great, some awful). My current manager is completely inexperienced and too busy being a new parent to get the training he desperately needs. And, believe me, it shows. If your employees exhibit this sort of behavior, do an honest self-assessment of your management skills. Then sign up for some management training and find a good mentor.

I am at work deciding whether to laugh or cry after reading this. Boy do I have some work ahead of me.