Polish attitude towards promotions at work

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Jul 29, 11, 19:49 #1

I am the only non-Pole working in a team, the rest being Polish. Recently a position came up at work as a manager in the same department however its with some different teams. So I applied and got the position. Whereas some of my colleagues are supportive and congratulatory I have also been accused of "running away" and thinking I am too good to work with them anymore. Obviously neither is true but I was quite shocked by the level of spite that came my way from some people. Is this typical response for gaining a promotion? Never came across it before.

♂ [Suspended]

Jul 29, 11, 19:52 #2

I am the only non-Pole working in a team, the rest being Polish. Recently a position came up at work as a manager in the same department however its with some different teams. So I applied and got the position. Whereas some of my colleagues are supportive and congratulatory I have also been accused of "running away" and thinking I am too good to work with them anymore. Obviously neither is true but I was quite shocked by the level of spite that came my way from some people. Is this typical response for gaining a promotion? Never came across it before.

That's normal in any business, Polish or non-Polish. Jealousy is a tough thing for newly-promoted team members to deal with, really.

Best bet is just to ignore it.

WroclawThreads: 77 Posts: 7,404 Joined: Apr 1, 06 ♂ [Moderator]	Jul 29, 11, 19:55 #3
Never came across it before. the negative response is from those who think they're better, i guess.

peter_olsztynThreads: 8 Posts: 760 Joined: Apr 18, 07 ♂	Jul 29, 11, 19:59 #4
accused of thinking I am too good to work with them anymore. Is this typical response for gaining a promotion? No. Typical response is anger (why not me, why I have to sit in this s office on the 1 floor) and jealousy.

ma101nxThreads: 5 Posts: 30 Joined: Apr 20, 10 ♂	Jul 29, 11, 20:21 #5
Its very strange, I have worked in a few companies across a couple of EU countries and was quite a surprise. No one else from the team applied for the position so only have themselves to blame. I guess for them its easier to blame someone else if they end up staying where they are and we should all suffer equally

Grzegorz_Threads: 81 Posts: 6,213 Joined: Nov 16, 06 ♂	Jul 29, 11, 21:08 #6
That's normal in any business, Polish or non-Polish. Jealousy is a tough thing for newly-promoted team members to deal with, really. Best bet is just to ignore it. Interesting. How many times were you promoted ?

JonnyMThreads: 16 Posts: 4,487 Joined: Mar 9, 11 ♂	Jul 29, 11, 22:25 #7
That's normal in any business Exactly - normal office infighting.

f stopThreads: 33 Posts: 2,861 Joined: Dec 9, 09 ♀	Jul 29, 11, 23:12 #8
you're not working with them anymore, so maybe they don't have to exert as much effort to be civil, and their true colors came out. Ditch 'em. Not normal at all. My motto is: there are enough good people everywhere, don't waste your time with those consumed by greed or envy.

modafinilThreads: - Posts: 831 Joined: Jun 28, 11 ♂	Jul 30, 11, 00:22 #9
I have also been accused of "running away" Buy them all a big box of chocolates(leave it where all can gain access), with a note thanking them for their support and confidence.

MEMBER ♀

Jul 30, 11, 02:49 #10

So I applied and got the position

Some employees dislike the idea of respecting authority in the workplace. Although you are now working in a different department, you've now become a figure of authority. Your coworkers may have developed feelings of subordination, especially if they've already become your friends. I believe in a basic rule at work. My friends are my friends and my coworkers are my coworkers. Some people may view my point as being stuck up. To hell with them. We're all at work to do our job.

A sincere thanks PF, for putting up with me FIVE terrific years, muah!

♂

Jul 30, 11, 07:20 #11

This is typical in any society - worked in UK, Germany and the US and the same reaction anywhere.

What is a bit strange in Poland is the attitude to career advancement - people care very much about titles (wanting to be called specialist, manager or director etc) but do not often have the application and desire to work patiently to a promotion - instead they come and ask for pay rises out of the blue - and do the gun to the head that they will go to a competitor (which 70% of the time it is best to ignore).

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