[Go.For.Broke]

My current employer is small – 20-25 employees. There is gossip, there are “teams,” there is bad-mouthing and everything else. My direct boss has a problem with most of the people here, and she shares her grievances openly with me. I merely nod and say “that’s unfortunate.” I do not want to stoop to that level. I’m above that. If anyone in my workplace has a problem with me, he or she can talk to ME about it – and vice versa. I’m not interested in “stirring” any pots.

If I send an e-mail with a question to someone outside of my department (with whom my boss doesn’t have a good relationship), my boss finds out and reprimands me for not going through her, because that e-mail might blow up into a big ordeal, and people start pointing fingers. I was never forewarned of this, but the response by my boss was severe enough that you’d think she’d warned me several times.

It’s absolutely ridiculous that I have to tip-toe around others, not directly go to certain people with questions/ideas, all because my boss is (acting) unprofessional and immature.

My boss is actually leaving in two months, and they’ll be bringing in a replacement. Although that means there could be a light at the end of the tunnel, the remaining problem is that so many others in the office seem to be deep into office politics and gossip. It’s an emotional drain on me, and it’s absolutely counterproductive to an efficient work environment.

I have only been here 3 or 4 months, so leaving would not look good on a resume (I’d imagine a potential new employer asking, “so you left after 3 or 4 months because you couldn’t handle a little bit of conflict at work?”). Well, it’s more than that.

I’m open to thoughts on what I should do.

[aaronmo]

Having run an HR department, I can tell you that it's a mistake to make decisions based on others changing. If you want to be happy you either have to accept it and find a way to be happy, or leave. That said, you're right…staying right now probably would be better long term.

There are other options…if they're truly that bad, other firms already know about the rep. You can say you came on expecting to be short term. You don't need to advertise that you didn't get along and left. You can point out your boss leaving as a mark of instability. Very few places want to go on record with a recommendation/insult. That said, I'd stick it out and go at least the two months…culture is top down, and a new boss can change the cutlture/tolerance. Those changes can take time as people are filtered out.

[Victor]

This is exactly what I am experiencing at my current job. My direct boss, controller, claims she is a CPA and thinks anyone can become a CPA after I told her that I was about to become a CPA, but she is not and never been a CPA (I checked online), but I never told her. I follow her instructions even though I disagree on most of them and she likes that way. That's one of the reasons I wanted to open my own practice

[Missy]

The question of whether to stay or go is really irrelevant until you have an offer on the table to accept or not. Look for something else if you feel you need to, when there's an offer to compare THAT's when you start weighing your options.

and if you get to the point an employer asks “so you left after 3 or 4 months because you couldn't handle a little bit of conflict at work?” you need to work on interview skills. The interviewer should have no reason to believe there's a smidge of conflict where you are now, huge red flag in an interview. Its clear the conflict isn't your fault but they don't want someone who speaks poorly at all of their previous employer or work environment.

Licensed Massachusetts Non Reporting CPA since 2012
Finance/Admin/HR Manager

[Go.For.Broke]

Thank you, everyone for your input. I very much appreciate it, and I will take it all into account as I continue to process the current situation, how to deal with it, and what the future holds.

Thanks!

[turo9992000]

@Victor, who does she say she is a CPA to? Do people assume she's a CPA and she just doesn't correct them? That's hella unethical.

[Stilgoin]

I cannot stress how much I enjoy having my own firm. I live in a small, rural area and I will never be rich, but I get to help people, make a decent living and not have to deal with stupid people at work every day. If you can ever work for yourself, DO IT. Many CPAs have some of the same tendancies, and dealing with office politics and stupidity is generally difficult for people who are so meticulous in their work, but we are usually very successful at working on our own.

@Go.For.Broke- be actively looking for an alternative. You will eventually find a better reason to leave than to stay.

B | 62, 78
A | 73, 67, 79
R | 82
F | 59, 59, Waiting

Ethics | 93

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
~Winston Churchill

“In a world full of critics, be an encourager."

[Author]

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