This was a very strange, toxic work environment. Colleagues fell into one of two categories: the lifers and the new hires. Everyone was always seemingly busy, busy, busy doing things that made no sense but had "always been done that way". Innovation or suggestions for improvement are not welcome. The senior leaders are very cutthroat and political; everything is done to curry favor with the elites on the posh executive floor. Mid level managers all march in lock step; senior leadership is never challenged.
The administrative staff is treated like second class citizens. There is a patronizing, chauvinistic air that permeates the whole place. Think "Mad Men" without the cool wardrobe.
The senior leader in my group was a narcissistic tyrant who seemingly was more concerned about ensuring that he reaped the rewards of the multiple loyalty programs he had attained status in. He was adamant about staying at only the finest 4 or 5 star hotels around the globe and spent a lot of time complaining about less than palatial accommodations. He was not at all concerned about the expenses incurred; however, he did have very specific preferences on the type of pillow he preferred. Lots of time spent on the phone with airlines arguing over the perks of his platinum/diamond medallion status and whether it entitled him to change flights four and five times without penalty (it did not, but he would never believe that).
This is the kind of place that never does anything nice for its employees, not even something as simple as telling them they can leave early on Christmas Eve or the Friday after Thanksgiving. Every day is just like another at the Gulag.
