Working in Corporate Environments

[Frank2500]

Greetings Folks,

I'm not sure if it's exactly the same in the U.S. but in my country in West Africa where I've been working now for almost three years (I have basically 10 more months left to continue on my current contractual job) the corporate working environment is quite out of control. I work for a company where the current CEO who's been running it for over 11 years, has been romantically involved with at least 90% of his female subordinate staff. It's an environment where if you're a woman, getting involved sexually with the CEO of the company is a prerequisite for career advancement and promotions. Merit, hard work and competence are at the very bottom of the list when it comes to promotion and that's what I've seen during the years I've been there.


The interesting thing is that it's also an environment where each of these relationships the CEO has with women(including new recruits) always gets exposed. Privacy and confidentiality are significantly lacking where I work and gossip is so common. Ever since I've been working there, I've done my best to stay out of trouble. I've kept my private life far from my place of work and the gossips and diggers haven't been able to find fault with me. My file has always been clean and despite being routinely passed over when it comes to promotion in favor of significantly less competent and less educated individuals, my hard work and level of professionalism haven't been qualities that even those who block my advancement are well aware of.


I've recently been dealing with a peculiar situation. One of the women whose names recently emerged as going out with the CEO got my work cell phone number and has been calling me quite aggressively. Knowing that she's one of the latest individuals to be involved with him, I don't take her calls. She stops calling for a little while and then restarts again like she did today. I'm getting the feeling someone may be pushing her to try to set a trap for me to fall into_in order to create a scandal to the effect of "Oh my goodness! He's going out with the CEO's girlfriend." Things which aren't taken very kindly over here. The boldness and persistence with which she's coming after me persuades me about that but I'm determined never to give in. Just a reminder that we always have to be careful out there. There's cruel folks who are determined to get people to fall and to get them in trouble, so we've always got to be on the lookout.

 

[Mike32ct]

You are very wise to avoid that trap. Stay strong and determined.

The CEO can b&ng anyone he wants at work and get away with it. But if you try it, it will open up a can of worms.

 

[Strelok]

I could write a treaty about this however Ill keep it short.

That same situation happened in my company few years ago, I was still new there but realized I wasnt experienced and prepared enough to deal with those power game.

So I just went to my boss (who is now the boss of my boss) and talked to him, I told him that I was aware of all the things and I was concerned about my work, and explained him that I recognized him as a boss but at the same time I would have had to deal with my career, then finally told him that there was intention from my part to be a good "wing"(dont know the word) for him and asked in exchange just fairness toward me.

We looked each other in the eyes and vigorously shaked our hands and he told me that I risked so much doing so but at the same time he NEEDED people with gut and loyalty.
That "need" is your point, you want those in power to have you useful.
The only insurance is being unexpendable.

When he got promoted he made sure I was promoted myself and Im his first choice when its necessary to send people abroad.

However I dont suggest you to do the same, it all depends on his backround, he was in the army back in the URSS era so he have some sort of discipline and respect for courage, cant say the same of the youger managers.

 

[Frank2500]

Re:

I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and experiences with me, guys. You all will be shocked. The CEO in question where I work is a man who's at least 70. Under normal circumstances, none of those young women would date him but that's the only way through which they can obtain promotions they are unqualified for and also get a lot of money.


Quite a few times I've tried to wonder who could be pushing this woman I talked about in my original post to be pressuring me with phone calls and so on and so forth. And in many African countries unfortunately, witchcraft is often practiced to try to influence people in order to obtain favors, promotions, relationships, etc. Let's assume for instance that the woman in question wasn't sent by someone else to pursue me and that she realizes her strategy isn't working. She could then go to a wizard or witch during unholy hours of the night and say "I'd like you to charm this guy for me. His name is so and so. I want you to prevent him from falling in love with anyone else. I want to have him by all coast."


So in such a difficult environment, holding on to the Word of God, praying unceasingly especially at night before you go to bed and in the morning before you go to work/when you wake up is absolutely important. Over here, going out with any of the CEO's girlfriends could cause you to either be sent on punitive transfer to some city where making ends meet is rather difficult, or you could end up losing your job like a joke.

 

[Strelok]

Im cristian so I dont believe in wizards and witches but from what I recall she needs something yours to do a spell, like some hair or a shirt.

The best thing you can do is talk to a lawyer for suggestions better yet if he studied law in harry potter's academy so he can help also with enchantments.

 

[Solomon]

Quite a few times I've tried to wonder who could be pushing this woman I talked about in my original post to be pressuring me with phone calls and so on and so forth. And in many African countries unfortunately, witchcraft is often practiced to try to influence people in order to obtain favors, promotions, relationships, etc. Let's assume for instance that the woman in question wasn't sent by someone else to pursue me and that she realizes her strategy isn't working. She could then go to a wizard or witch during unholy hours of the night and say "I'd like you to charm this guy for me. His name is so and so. I want you to prevent him from falling in love with anyone else. I want to have him by all coast."


So in such a difficult environment, holding on to the Word of God, praying unceasingly especially at night before you go to bed and in the morning before you go to work/when you wake up is absolutely important. Over here, going out with any of the CEO's girlfriends could cause you to either be sent on punitive transfer to some city where making ends meet is rather difficult, or you could end up losing your job like a joke.

I'm assuming your in Niagara or Ghana, right? For people who haven't been there they may assume this post is crazy or odd, but I have family who lived in those places so I understand what your talking about and that "witchcraft" and "demons" are very prevalent.

Back on topic, stay away from this women, and keep your head up

 

[Frank2500]

Re:

Thanks to you all for your words of encouragement. I honestly can't wait to leave my current place of work and environment. @Strelok: I am a Christian as well but in as much as I would like not to believe in witches and wizards, I must tell you that they do exist. Not to frighten anyone but I personally have had dreams over here in which I have seen individuals whom I know coming to attack me and the very next day when I got to see them it was like they weren't happy to see me at all and were feeling so guilty that they couldn't look me in the eye. Those were clear confirmations. In many African countries, envious people contact witches and wizards to eliminate those whom they perceive as rivals where they work, to influence their bosses so that they could obtain promotions, to charm individuals for romantic purposes, etc.


But I have witnessed from personal experience that prayer and the name "Jesus" are very powerful weapons that these people can't resist and which make them unable to perform their tasks. And that is what my family and I have continued to hold on to over here to survive. Don't let anyone deveive you that witches and wizards aren't out there. They are very much there, but the voodoo they practice is more blatant in other cultures and countries compared to others. The good news however is that their powers are destroyed and neutralized once you pray and rely on the Omnipresence and Supreme Power of God.

 

[Solomon]

Thanks to you all for your words of encouragement. I honestly can't wait to leave my current place of work and environment. @Strelok: I am a Christian as well but in as much as I would like not to believe in witches and wizards, I must tell you that they do exist. Not to frighten anyone but I personally have had dreams over here in which I have seen individuals whom I know coming to attack me and the very next day when I got to see them it was like they weren't happy to see me at all and were feeling so guilty that they couldn't look me in the eye. Those were clear confirmations. In many African countries, envious people contact witches and wizards to eliminate those whom they perceive as rivals where they work, to influence their bosses so that they could obtain promotions, to charm individuals for romantic purposes, etc.


But I have witnessed from personal experience that prayer and the name "Jesus" are very powerful weapons that these people can't resist and which make them unable to perform their tasks. And that is what my family and I have continued to hold on to over here to survive. Don't let anyone deveive you that witches and wizards aren't out there. They are very much there, but the voodoo they practice is more blatant in other cultures and countries compared to others. The good news however is that their powers are destroyed and neutralized once you pray and rely on the Omnipresence and Supreme Power of God.

What country are you originally from?

A lot of people are ignorant to this unless they have traveled or have family who have lived in other countries but witchkraft is real...

and imma leave it at that

 

[Frank2500]

Re:

@Solomon: I'm glad that you know witch craft is real and that you can defend me on that claim. The thing is such practices are extremely rare in Western countries, so a lot of people over there are so shocked when one tells them stories of some of the things wicked people do in Africa. As I'm sure you can understand, I can't really reveal the exact country I'm from originally, in order to keep a little measure of privacy. However, your guess was 85% correct in the sense that where I'm originally from is one of the countries around the Ghana and Nigeria vicinity.

 

[Frank2500]

Re: These are the Sacrifices to Make

You see? That's why such circumstances and situations aren't easy at all. I just ran into the woman in question in the hallway. Whether we like it or not, we are bound to be running into each other quite often. My superiors work on the 4th floor where she too is based, so I'm forced to take the elevator quite often up there to receive files/dossiers and instructions.


She looked at me very unkindly this morning. In her mind she probably thinks of me as a jerk who's refusing to take her calls but she doesn't have the common sense to stop and think about what damage she would be doing to my career if I started seeing her in case it is indeed true that she's dating the company's CEO. She's only thinking about her own interests. It's gotten to the point where I wouldn't feel comfortable catching the elevator if it were just the two of us who would be inside. And she's already taking it personal...I wouldn't be surprised if she stops saying hi to me eventually.



Personally, I wouldn't at all feel comfortable dating a woman who works at the same company as me, for all the reasons you guys could imagine. And where I work, there's absolutely no confidentiality or respect for people's privacy. The place is filled up with gossips to the point where if you make a mistake, your entire private life would be discussed by all sorts of people on all the floors. I'd rather have her dislike me and consider me an enemy than to make a mistake that would cost me this job while it lasts...