I work in an environment that leaves a lot to be desired. It's a cramped space, and the owners need to invest in improving the workspace, rather than hoarding the money away for a rainy day. Back to front, the storefront is in need of repairs and expansion, or the offices need to be relocated altogether. I know we're in a financial crises, but I don't think that's reason enough to have mended a drafty hole in the bathroom wall. One best wear a pullover sweater during colder temperatures if all the bits and pieces are to remain intact.
The space is small bordering on claustrophobic, and many of my new coworkers were never taught to use their inside voice, and without proper cubicles and distance between desks, voices carry and crawl up the back of the neck. The resulting migraine headache, preventable.
I've worked for small business owners before, but never a family-owned business in a cultural enclave replete with different customs and belief systems. I initially thought of this experience as a form of affirmative action, but it's not the same.
Working in this place is like stepping into a time machine to a place before passports were needed. A time of feudal villages, warlords, and autocracies.
Regardless of the industry or office size, politics exist in the daily operations. It's wrong for a small business to be run like a family, even if it's family-owned and operated.
I'm grateful for the opportunity to prove myself, but don't look forward to jumping through hoops or being subjected to the whims of an immature, moody boss.
