The Working Dead

[MichiganMat]

I work at a huge software company, a dream-job for those in the industry, but the culture of the company is a far cry from the perception of it. The majority of the guys I work with are what I would call "The working dead", sorry, lonely, often alcoholic, albiet brilliant, souls who drag themselves to work everyday only to crap all over everyone.

Software work, good software work, is almost like creating art, it quickly becomes "your baby", and IMO every engineer wants to make a good product. It only takes one jerkoff to ruin any excitment you may have. "Yeah, its ok, I guess..." I've been working with these jokers for 4 years now and I've reached my limit, Im ready to move on. There isn't a team at the company that Im interested in working with, not one, just more of the same.

Am I asking too much here? I come from a working-class Union family where you take what you can get and I feel a little guilty about giving up a job just because I don't like the people. Regardless, tomorrow Im going to go my teamates office and tell him he should quit, Im tired of hearing about how much he hates working there. This guy is like a big black cloud, he sullys every good feeling I have about life just by looking at him. If only he wasn't a better engineer than me... {grumble}

Its a big company, but even the guys I eat lunch with have got zero-zip-nodda to say about anything. Zombies!

Is the entire world full of "The working dead"?

[kach22i]

Jobs/work even if you run your own firm can drain you. Just as with personal relationships you can't count on any one person/job to make you happy or to fullfill you to your fullest.

Perhaps you need to volunteer, teach community college, get a second girl friend, what ever to spice things up.

Just a suggestion........maybe drive the Porsche more.

[Dixie]

...I've been working with these jokers for 4 years now...

At this point you owe it to yourself to work there another year. That way you're 100% vested in any corporate retirement plans.

[stomachmonkey]

I've worked for 500 employee companies, 10,000 employee co's and 10 employee co's.

I prefer them in the 500 range. Small enough for intimacy and a real feeling of kinship but enough bodies to keep it varied.

[azasadny]

MichiganMat,

I know what you mean. I just left Ford after 9 years there and it was like "Hitler's bunker" for the last year. I am glad to be out of there and just took my 911 on a 3300 mile trip to "clear the cobwebs" and you might want to do the same, works wonders!! Good luck!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I quit my corporate job in January to go work for a small, 8-person local startup here in Long Beach. Best thing I've ever done. I don't miss the corporate B.S. one bit.

[jyl]

Either find a different group to work with, or start looking for a new job. Life is too short to be consistently bummed out by work.

[jluetjen]

I agree John L. I'd rather take less money and more satisfaction any day. Oh yeah, I've already done that and now work for a <10 person company from home.

[MichiganMat]

Thanks for the input guys, I truely appreciate it. Navigating the corporate world without a guide can become overwhelming to say the least, its nice to have an impartial opinion from time to time.

[Hetmann]

I'm in IT too. Been there, done that. Keep an eye open, there's always a better situation around the bend. No reason to live with a situation that's a constant drag.

[Jim Richards]

[on-ramp]

here's a related story.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070312/hl_afp/nzealandhealthresearchdvt_070312040931

Office workers most at risk from blood clots: study