I've been feeling uneasy at my current landscaping job. Today was particularly tense—my boss threw a tape measure at an employee during a disagreement, though he didn't make contact. A couple of long-time workers ended up walking off the job, which feels pretty alarming. I've worked in landscaping before, and while I've seen stress, this seems over the line. Is this sort of behavior typical in the industry, or is it time for me to consider a new line of work?
3 Answers
It's definitely not "normal" in any sense. You might run into some jerk bosses here and there, but this sounds toxic. If your workplace is making you feel this way, you should think about moving on. There are much better jobs out there where you can still enjoy landscaping without the stress.
Your boss sounds like a real piece of work. If he's throwing stuff, it makes sense that employees are jumping ship. No one should have to deal with that kind of environment.
Absolutely. I've worked with a lot of contractors, and sadly, some are just awful to their team. It’s likely your boss fits that bill.
Nah, that's not cool at all. Even in the trades, physical violence isn't tolerated. Throwing something at someone could easily be called assault.
Right? You shouldn't have to worry about getting hit with tools while you’re just trying to work.
Exactly! I’ve worked in landscaping for years and while it can be tough, the atmosphere should be supportive, not hostile.