Rule-Breakers: Reputation Ramificaticatications

Keep in mind, that there are workplaces that are beyond conformity -- they're cult like, especially if they are comprised of 99% of the same race (make a guess!). I felt like a black sheep at my last company, that alone probably had others see me as an outsider.

In my first week of working there, the CEO had singled me out...I overheard him in the lunchroom talking to other staff (I was the only new hire at the time):

Something along these lines...how he just doesn't understand or get why people need to go outside during lunchtime to wander, or shop -- and how he just disliked shopping so much...and can't see why some are fascinated with that type of activity.

He said the above with such condescension and he spoke it aloud to other staff there (that's acting like a bully). There were no rules against going outside for lunch, not in the handbook, nobody told me so --- I don't know of any workplace that bans people from heading outside for lunch. (The workplace prior to that didn't even have a lunchroom --so I always headed out).

If the CEO doesn't want people (regular staff) from heading outside for lunch -- then that needs to be a rule and put into the employee handbook. No employee, especially a new hire deserves to be spoken so negatively about -- when they've broken NO rules.

What is it to him anyways that I went outside for lunch (only half an hour for lunch)? God knows, I needed fresh air, and give my body and eyeballs some exercise. Wandering and window shopping is great for stretching the eyeballs after intense eyestrain...a different change in scenery rejigs the brain (well for me).

All of the staff pretty well commune at lunchtime everyday (this must be the unspoken rule/social cue)...I would love to, but my 30 mins is precious to me...even if I don't get a chance to eat --- I need that time to reboot myself. If people look down on me for that, then that is their ISSUE, not mine. Get over yourselves. I will do what will help me get through the rest of the workday -- for others that could be sitting down and socializing at lunchtime.

People need to mind their own business and stop imposing their prejudices on others. Are there a self-help books for these types of people/tyrants? How do they move up the ladder and form a cult? How are they allowed to get away with hiring an army of the same race?

Actually it wasn't my first week, more like my third week. Because initially you're supposed to act like everyone else...to get into the routine of doing everything like everyone else there...try to understand and follow the culture. So the social cues expected everyone to stay in for lunch and commune at the lunch table. By the third week or so...i couldn't stand sitting in one place and then moving to the lunchroom to sit again. It was very suffocating.

Great leaders are empowering and fair. Poor leaders have insidious values that spread like cancer...but some people don't mind being part of the cancer, as long as they fit in with others and feel the love and acceptance.

Employers are deceptive...if you have policies outside of the norm, you need to be upfront about them in interviews. As far as I know most office jobs have 1 hour lunches or breaks equal to that. If you offer half an hour lunch to staff -- tell that to the interviewee and have that in the employee handbook (sorry but washroom breaks don't count towards the full hour!). If your preference/expectation is for employees to stay inside and eat at the lunch table, then you have a duty to let interviewees know about that! You don't have a right to gripe about things, if you have been deceptive and not forthcoming or change the rules once a new hire comes in. New hires hate surprises. Some employers expect new hires to just stick to the job and settle into their role once they are hired -- it's like gotcha!