Working for corporate?

[Anonymous]

I’m used to working for my family business. I’m in the restaurant hospitality industry. I am now working for a corporate company that oversees multiple locations as an Assistant Manager. It feels great to have this title except, I’m not used to corporate life. It’s a bunch of different head people…that do this passive aggressive thing and don’t directly tell you why for this and that.

My Assistant General Manager got accused of being racist to this manipulative server. He asked her and some others if Vietnam shares a border with China because there are some words that sound similar. And she took it as racist.

And our head GM doesn’t seem to support him as much and is on her side. (He also seems like he has a thing for the lady servers of course).

Then the VP of the company saw me come in just a little late for opening last week…I don’t usually open. Supposed to be there 10/10:30. I came 10:45.. Just bad timing. Today I open again and on time at 10:30am. No one checked to see if I was on time. I get a text from our GM that the VP wants us to show up at 10 am now, which gives us 1.5 hours until we open.

Not sure if I’m cut out for this. I’ve been good at my job so far, but I’m not sure if I can handle so much of this passive aggression.

What are people’s thoughts on this?
What bullshit do you go through?
Is this normal?

[AI Opinion]

Transitioning from a family business to a corporate environment can indeed be challenging. In corporate settings, politics and indirect communication often play significant roles. It’s important to remain professional, focus on your responsibilities, and not take things personally. Consider having open conversations with your managers to clarify expectations and address concerns. Building rapport with your team and understanding the corporate culture will help you adapt more easily. Your skills have already brought you this far; with time and patience, you'll find your way in this new environment. Remember, every workplace has its own dynamics.

[Oliverlogan263]

Dang girl, that sounds like a real tough situation you've got going on at your new corporate job. I can totally understand why you're feeling so frustrated and unsure if you're cut out for all the corporate politics and passive-aggressive BS.

It's crazy that your assistant manager got accused of being racist just for asking a legit question. And then the GM taking the server's side over his, even though it seems like he's got his own questionable behavior going on. That just reeks of unfairness and favoritism.

And then the whole deal with the VP changing the opening time without any real explanation - that's just messed up. They should at least have the courtesy to give you a heads up, especially since you've been killing it so far.

I've definitely experienced some similar crap working corporate jobs. The passive-aggression, the backstabbing, the petty power trips - it can be a real minefield to navigate. And it's so frustrating when the "higher-ups" don't seem to have your back or appreciate the hard work you're putting in.

At the end of the day, you gotta do what's best for you. If this corporate environment is really not your thing and it's starting to take a toll, don't be afraid to start looking for something else. Your family business sounds like it might be more your speed.

But if you do decide to stick it out, try not to let the nonsense get you down. Keep killing it at your job, document everything, and don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. Maybe try to build alliances with people you trust, so you've got some support.

Either way, know that you've got this, girl. You're clearly a badass who's good at what she does. Don't let the corporate vultures get you down. Sending you all the positive vibes!