Call Me a Work in Progress

When we’re catching up with friends or family, someone almost always asks, “So, how’s work?” It’s one of those universal conversation starters, right up there with “How’ve you been?” and “Is it supposed to rain today?” It makes sense—work takes up such a big part of our lives that it feels natural to check in. But the answers are rarely a cheerful “Amazing! Love it!” More often, it’s a sigh and a reluctant “It’s fine, but…” followed by a laundry list of grievances: “My micromanaging boss is driving me nuts,” “We’re having yet another reorganization,” “My workload is overwhelming,” or the existential classic, “I have no idea what I’m doing with my life.” And yes, I’m guilty of every one of these! Everyone has something they’d like to change about their job, but let’s be real—not all complaints are created equal. There’s a range: some people have a catalog of frustrations, while others just have the occasional gripe. And then, there’s a scale. A serious issue like, “My manager is openly sexist,” clearly carries more weight than, “We keep running out of oat milk for coffee.” When a complaint affects your safety, health, or well-being, it’s a signal to act—to talk to HR or even think about leaving if nothing changes. At the end of the day, it’s just a job—no paycheck is worth sacrificing your peace of mind. Fortunately, most people I speak with don’t encounter such severe issues. In fact, many simply want to vent about their jobs but have no desire to leave because the benefits—whether it's pay, stability, or a sense of purpose—far outweigh the downsides. Interestingly, those who complain might actually enjoy their jobs more than they let on, which only adds to the confusion. This really makes me ponder: why do we complain? Well, I definitely think it has something to do with my generation sometimes having to adjust our sky-high expectations to reality. Growing up, we were told we could be anything, that the world was our oyster, and that work should bring us joy. The reality doesn’t always match these romanticized ideals. We scroll through LinkedIn and social media, seeing “I landed my dream job!” posts everywhere. It’s easy to start thinking that’s how our experiences should look like, too. (Although I have to say, there’s a refreshing shift on social media now with people sharing more honest stories about the realities of work and life.) Still, no wonder we have to blow off the occasional steam. Perhaps controversally, I also think we complain because it can actually be incredibly useful. Maybe it’s even why we’ve survived as a species for so long—it’s how we problem-solve, right? It’s how we spot what’s not working, and sometimes a bit of dissatisfaction is exactly the push we need to pursue something better. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that complaints can fuel innovation, spark change, and foster personal growth. And the fact that people feel comfortable enough to share their frustrations at work can actually be a testament to good company culture. But, of course, constant, unproductive complaining has its dangers. I once worked with a team that had practically made complaining an art form. Everyone, all day long, was venting about something. It was exhausting, and not because the issues were catastrophic—this was just the team culture. Even thinking about that job now makes me feel drained. Complaining nonstop without any solutions or balance just drags everyone down. And let’s be honest, nobody likes a Debbie Downer. In the end, I saw firsthand how it can leave people feeling like victims, stuck in a cycle of blame with no ownership over their experience. So, where do I really stand on complaining? For me, it’s part of being human to talk about both the good and the bad. I genuinely want to hear about the things that aren’t going well because we’re friends, and I want to help you navigate those tough spots just as much as I want to celebrate your wins. But here’s the catch: complaining doesn’t work solo; it needs a partner—let’s call her Mrs. Action. If something’s off, you’ve got to bend that situation into something better. Otherwise, what’s the point? I can already hear some of my friends saying, “Yeah, but Aniek, sometimes I just want to complain for the sake of complaining.” Fair enough! In that case, just let the other person know you’re venting. And finally—if I’ve learned anything from all those self-help books—it’s important not to let the little things overshadow the big picture. I’ll admit, this last piece of advice is mainly for myself. Next time I complain—and trust me, there will be a next time—I’ll try to keep these things in mind. It all sounds very wise in theory and looks good on paper, but I know my husband is laughing his head off at this post right now, as if I’ve got it all figured out. Life's a work in progress, darling; I guess we can’t complain!

One thing about me: I love having dinner and drinks with friends while we passionately discuss our company cultures. It’s fascinating how it’s such a hot topic—people either adore their company culture or find it toxic. Before I entered the workforce, I can’t recall it being such a big deal. I guess this focus on company culture is so prevalent in my life now because people of my generation tend to prioritize their well-being and life experiences. Unlike previous generations, many of us don’t have to tolerate poor treatment from employers, especially with more job opportunities available. Let’s be honest: we want what’s best for ourselves. After all, what kind of self-care kings and queens would we otherwise be? I know a thing or two about company culture. I used to work as an Office & Culture Lead at an incredibly cool B-Corp, and I can’t help but chuckle at some of the extravagant things I did in the name of "culture." My job was to ensure that everyone had an amazing, meaningful, and inclusive experience at work, which often felt like running a full-time entertainment business. I loved it, though, and found it incredibly fulfilling. It really pushed my creativity as I constantly looked for new ways to surprise and delight my colleagues. Food, freebies, social inspiration, and unforgettable experiences worked wonders. Anything that made people laugh, learn, or feel good about themselves was pure gold, especially when senior managers and the board joined in. However, over time, I found the concept of company culture increasingly confusing. Is it really just about promoting inclusivity and having fun at work? Does that genuinely define a great culture? If so, then why weren’t people always happy? Why were there so many moments when I felt overwhelmed, undervalued, and questioned my true contributions to society? The activities provided temporary relief, but they didn’t seem to reflect the full reality of the situation. Instead, they felt like welcome distractions. Behind the scenes, things weren’t always rosy. The workload was incredibly high, and the pay was nothing to write home about. Most of the time, I didn’t mind though, because I loved my colleagues and was committed to the company and its B-Corp “vision”—just like many other idealistic young people who were easily drawn into cult-like devotion. I would work overtime and, at home, think about work every waking (and sometimes sleeping) hour. I became deeply involved in my colleagues' emotions; if my friends—er, colleagues—weren’t doing well, it affected me too. Looking back now, I smile at that version of myself; I seemed so young and unable to set healthy boundaries. No wonder most days I felt like I was on the brink of burnout! But can I really solely blame the company culture for that? The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that a great company culture involves more than just having fun at work. It’s about establishing fair and sustainable working conditions while genuinely upholding the values you promote. If mental well-being is truly a priority, don’t simply provide “mental health emergency lines”, adjust workloads and fairly compensate for overtime. If diversity is at the top of you list, actively seek out individuals from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their education. If board members emphasize the importance of downtime, then why are they sending emails at midnight? And if equality is truly valued, why is one male employee earning more than his female counterparts for the same role? In my opinion, even if it’s unintentional, there’s a fine line between having a genuine vision for a company culture and wokewashing. One final point I’d like to emphasize is that I don’t believe perfection exists when it comes to company culture. No employer will ever be flawless; there will always be room for improvement, and as long as people are involved, mistakes will happen. I also don’t think we should swing to the other extreme—from having “no rights” at work to feeling entitled to royal treatment. “I didn’t sleep well, so I’m canceling all my meetings this morning for self-care,” or “I don’t like my boss, so I’m calling in sick indefinitely—and don’t even think about asking me to come back; it’s bad for my mental health.” (A friend of mine had someone in her team pull this.) This isn’t a healthy approach to being an employee or a team player, either—and I can see why most employers wouldn’t know how to handle it. If you ask me, company culture is a continually evolving work in progress that should adapt to the needs of its employees, the business, and the environment and era in which it operates. It should be fun and fair for both employees and employers, achieved through mutual commitment to thrive and honest, open communication. What do you think?