Complaint box

In corporate there is a specialised group of people who would always be unhappy or upset with some or the other thing. Nothing ever makes them happy. They complain over each and every thing. In my corporate career I used to call this type of people as the complaint box.

I met such people everywhere I went. They would complain that the train was crowded; the seat they got in the bus was uncomfortable; the weather is too hot; the AC is too cool; the office chair is not supportive enough; the food is too bland; that day is too boring. The most common were there is too much of work and we are not paid enough. Though I agree with the work related complaint, their complaints were endless.

Let me elaborate and share an example of such a complaint box whose name was Arya (pseudonym). Arya was with me in one of the organisations. Right from the time she would step in the office she would start complaining. She would complain about every single thing. Nothing would ever make her happy or satisfied. She would often say that our job is too complicated and it does not pay well. Arya was in that organisation for over 10 years. She would say it so many times that it became frustrating. Once I told her that if you are a not happy with the work here you should start searching for opportunities outside. To which she said finding a job outside its too much of work and she did not get so much time for it. This was the main trait of the complaint box people. They would complain a lot about the current situation but they would not take any step to change it.

Another such person that I met in my career was called Chirag (pseudonym). Chirag had traits which were similar to Arya. He would complain a lot. He would complain about work, weather, transport, family, children, friends, you name it and he would complain about that. Chirag too had been a veteran in the organisation. After spending over 15 years in the same organisation he was not a ready to switch to any other organisation. He would prefer to complain than look for better opportunities.

There is a massive disadvantage of being in the company of complaint box people. They are very negative. When they speak they scrib a lot. They talk about nothing but their grievances. Every sentence that they speak is a complaint. Staying with such people would definitely have a very negative impact on our mindset. Because they say negative things so many times and constantly even we start thinking negatively. We start feeling that the world is not good enough for us. Also it becomes very frustrating being in company with them.

I am not a person who gets easily demotivated. When I was working with Chirag or Arya it was very annoying for me to listen to them. Their constant complaining really started affecting me. With each minute that I would spend with them I would feel as if I am dragged deep into the quagmire. The only way I could get away from them was to sit far away from them and avoiding them.

For people working in corporate or the students applying for the job be aware of such characters. Stay away from them.