It's a jungle out there

Maybe the Romans had it right. Back then, if you wanted to settle disputes you could just don a gladiator outfit, head for the arena and hack each other to death.

For anyone who has been the victim of day-in day-out office politics, this may feel like a civilised way of sorting things out.

The stress that can come with personality clashes at work, or in-house backstabbing and jealousy can turn employees into nervous wrecks.

And as the recession drags out, people are less likely to speak up if they are feeling miserable or bullied for fear of being labelled “a complainer'' and jeopardising their job.

Unwind asked readers for their tales of workplace woe and found that it was a problem that many people had dealt with at some point in their career.

Victims of bias

Kaman, a media worker based in Dubai, left a well-paid job in London last year after bad experiences with his ex-colleagues.

“In my old job there was an attractive woman who wanted to sit near the window during an office move and she talked to my male manager behind my back about how she needs natural light because she had ‘migraines'.

"I was given a dark and dingy corner of the office and she was given a huge desk with a window view.''

Another reader reported that in his case office politics revealed itself in a “it's not what you know but who you know'' environment.

“Office politics can ruin what would otherwise be a great job,'' says Andrew, based in Abu Dhabi.

“For me, it's the little things that can drive you crazy. Although I work really hard, sometimes doing crazy hours, I know I will never achieve promotion as easily as my lazy colleague who just happens to be the cousin of one of the bosses at my company! Every day this guy gets away with turning up late, making loads of personal telephone calls and generally driving everyone mad. He's also been given the best desk and a nice company car. Office politics is alive and well, believe me.''

Wide-reaching problem

Recruitment professionals are all too aware that office politics is a very real menace and report that on occasions candidates will beg them to find them a new job because they can't face another day in the firing line.

“It's sad but true. But there does seem to be something about the office environment that can lend itself to cases of bullying or mind games or even outright favouritism,'' says one recruitment company manager who did not want to be named.

Her company is responsible for recruiting workers from abroad, to come and work in the Middle East.

She says office politics spans cultures, countries and affects both sexes and all age groups.

“I've placed senior people in seemingly great roles who should have flourished but who have come back to me a few months later on the brink of tears, saying they can't deal with the everyday clashes,'' she reveals.

GUIDELINES

Tips for survival

Focus on the business objectives and don't side with one person over the other — even if you like one better.

Readers say:

A working environment with bad politics and personality clashes throws you in a kind of depression and hence quality of work gets affected.

— Agniyah, Dubai

Personality clashes at work can be soul destroying. We spend the majority of our week at work so it can soon take over your life and occupy every waking thought.

— Liz, Dubai