Work Politics**i Hit Edit and It duplicated...read This One!**

Rise above the pettiness! Develop some thicker skin. I know it's hard, but just smile and wave.

I would say good morning to everyone - regardless of how I felt about them. I always hated managers that would not. Now, if you are truly in a supervisory position, you can pull the trouble maker aside and say something like, "I understand you are unhappy with my promotion, would you like to talk about it?" And let them talk. Then say, "I really appreciate your comments and point of view. I hope you can get past this negativity and see that I'm working hard to make sure our company succeeds - you should too."

Remember, your company is like a tree full of monkeys. Some monkeys are younger and climbing to the top of the tree, some monkeys are older and making their way down. The monkeys at the top of the tree look down and see smiling faces. The monkeys on the bottom of the tree look up and all they see are a**holes.

Above all, be gracious - people are looking up to you.

It is a very common thing, most people once promoted find it very hard to maintain relationships with prior peer workers. You must remember that with every step you take forward, there will be 10 people saying you didn't get there the right way. Just remember that YOU are the one the company acknowledged to be doing a great job, and YOU deserve the credit. So hold your head up high and follow the straight and narrow path to success. CONGRATULATIONS!

I responded to the other O.--ooops--but after reading this version, my advice is the same.
Keep your nose to the grindstone, earn that raise every day and display yourself as manager material by NOT caving to the office politics and rumor-mill. Get used to biting your tongue. No need to mention ANYTHING to your VP. Most likely she/he knows exactly what's going on. It's not uncommon for morale to plunge during a shakeup like that.

A negative work environment is not good for anyone. Do not go and complain about it because it makes you look weak to your superiors. Instead develop something that will bring back "job joy" to everyone.

Take a look around your community and see where you can get involved. Gather the details and a strategy and take it back to your company as a possible PR event. For instance, our local zoo has an annual "Zoo Run." I got the registration forms, found a place to make us team T-shirts, and organized a team. People could choose to run competitively or in the 1 mile family run with or without their kids. It was lots of fun, good PR, and, a great way for employees to interact (and even meet each other's family) outside of work.

There are lots of oppurtunities out there. Focus on the positive and find somewhere else for people to focus their energy.

Your company has approved your behavior in the form of a promotion and a raise. Co-workers are jealous and or envious and those emotions are not going to help them in a work place that's competitive and laying people off left and right. Sometimes the only way to improve morale is to fire all the unhappy people (and I've seen company s effectively fix the problem exactly in this way). There are plenty of people who are hungry for jobs who'd be more than happy to fill any vacancies. Be yourself. Treat everyone cordially in a business like manner. Their attitude is only hurting themselves.

;

I answered on the other one... my answer still stands. Don't lower yourself to their level. Keep your chin up and your eyes forward. Be nice. Say hello. Be cordial.
YMMV
LBC

Don't lower yourself to their level. Continue to be the better person. Look them in the eye when you walk by and say hi. Since most of these people are not in your immediate department don't worry about them. It will wear off eventually. I always tell my husband and kids to say a prayer before going to work. Ask for protection from the negativity thrown your way and for continued blessings. Your gonna be fine. CONGRATULATIONS ON DOING A GOOD JOB!!!

i wouldn't say anything to the VP. then you'll be a spoiled brat going to the boss complaining about people.
it happened and nothing you can do about it. if i were you i'd try to mend relationships, because if everyone ends up hating you, and making formal complaints about you (trust me you'll be under magnifying glass by other employees), and every screw up will be talked about if not reported.
now, i don't know, about the old boss being demoted and moved to another department, and you being promoted. considering there are others who have been long term employees. do you see their side? they're jealous, and rightfully so. you just happened to be at the right place at the right time, what if someone else was at the right place and the right time? you wouldn't have taken it easy either.
also most promotions come with a raise, that's why others think you got a raise. salary talks are forbidden and frown upon so you can't go and say i got nothing, maybe you got nothing now, but when the economy turns around you'll get your monies worth.
you do sound immature in this post. i am not saying you're immature but develop a backbone., not everyone is going to like you always. they never will, and in this case, you know the reason. do the best you can do, and do not put people on the map with the VP. that will come bite you in the back
good luck

Congratulations. I hope vented helped.
I will just say what I tell my boys. Do your best to be yourself and do the right thing no matter what the people around you are doing. Don't let others' attitudes determine yours. It sounds like this is what your are doing.
Victoria

Congratulations on your promotion, first of all! You're obviously the right one for the job. As for the drama, I know it's tough, but don't sweat it. Perseverance is the best and most effective strategy; keep saying 'hi', keep doing your job, and don't join their catty game. You can't change them, you can only control your own actions & responses; eventually they'll either come around or find a new target for their bitterness. Or perhaps get fired as the higher-ups realize how such a poisonous work environment affects their bottom lines. Either way, you'll win.

You might also up the amount of time you spend with non-work friends. Go see a great movie, go out to dinner at your favorite restaurant, go out dancing or to the zoo or whatever gives you joy. If your house of worship has a summer camp for kids, volunteer with them and help make silly messy crafts and dance like a crazy person. Basically, remind yourself that your life has many sources of pleasure and enjoyment, and when compared with such fullness of joy, other people's petty complaints seem awfully little.

Congrats on your promotion. It sounds like there is a lot going on with your company and people are concerned about their jobs. In this day in our economy that is tough. My response is for those that have been your friends in the past and have changed, talk to them. These people also know that since you have been elevated to supervisory that you also have control over whether they stay, leave or even get a raise. Good luck tho and talk to those who have been your friends and rise about the office politics that can be tough. Some will be ok as time goes on, others well....

If you are their supervisor you should definitely speak up. Even if you are not their supervisor I would probably if possible get them all in a room together and call them out for their behavior. I would probably keep it light when I did but I would definitely call them out. Something like "Guys, you have got to be kidding with the "Blah, blah, blah"."

In any event, continue to be the best worker you can be by being pleasant, polite, effective and efficient but this childishness needs to stop because it will effect performance or may even cause some sabotage to happen too. After this conversation has happened, brush the dust off and keep it moving. You have to do your job and help them where you can to be more like you in their work effort.