Office politics happen when people determine they can get more money by engaging in politics instead of working. This is just an indicator people aren't being paid enough money (since people politicking around is detrimental to the company, it is better off paying them whatever it takes for them not to engage in such behavior). "You get what you pay for" applies yet again.

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dpark 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Politicking is just group dynamics. In large companies people engage in politics because it becomes necessary to accomplish large things.

Of course a group can also have bad actors but that’s not really an issue with politics specifically. Politics are neither good nor bad.

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xvector 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Hard disagree, most of my coworkers make well north of $1M and office politics is at an all time high.

I believe office politics happens when there are simply too many people at a company or org.

	▲	optionalsquid 3 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Office politics happen when the number of people at an office exceeds 2
	▲	Nextgrid 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		I think too many people happens because a company would rather hire 10 "market rate" people than 3 well-compensated ones. Headcount inflation dilutes responsibility and rewards, so even if one of the "market rate" guys does the best work possible they won't get rewarded proportionally... so if hard work isn't going to get them adequate comp, maybe politics will.
	▲	ngcc_hk 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I believe incompetence is the key. When someone cannot compete (or the office does not use yardstick that can be measurable) politics is the only way to get you up. Switch to what Nobel prize to man instead of the woman who do the work … sometimes. Take the credit and get the promotion.