It is a very negative work place with an illuminating cloud of despair. It is a very complex culture; it’s a Navy city (look up those stereotypes), a small town isolated on a peninsula, and no other industry there. The majority of people who work there either have a spouse or an ex-spouse who works there too, with countless ex’s. Which means it can hold a lot of drama and personal baggage in the work place.
No one is happy for anyone there. Promotions and success on projects get people attention that they ultimately don’t want. This is due to the negative consequences and drama
associated with the positive light. Many people who win the “employee of the year” award are disappointed, as they know what it means. This causes a lot of people to become complacent.
I watched so many talented individuals leave because of the emotional abuse that occurred. And it’s not just one group, or management versus the employees. It lacks a sense of community and is painfully dysfunctional. Almost everyone there is so unhappy; it’s hard to watch, even if you commute in and separate yourself from the local area. It’s never easy being around people who are in pain.
I can say that after working in the environment, I know I can take on anything. This is a remarkable gift! Because of that I am not bitter or made, but grateful at the “odd” gift received.
For those who have other options, I really urge you to do your homework and think about if it’s worth it to you. For me it was, I got great training and with my 3 years I am tenured and can always go back to the (a different) government agency. This did come at a cost, including 1-2 years of working hard to shake off the dysfunction.
