I think that while it's not exactly "hostile", at least where I'm at, you worry about your job. You wonder just how far they will go to get rid of a "highly" paid employee with a new piece of meat that doesn't know any better. I think we're lucky at this SC in that we have some very old hands who remember what it was like when we were a real LTL company. They remember, but can't do anything about, what an engaged employee was (is) capable of. We all know what an un-engaged employee is capable of. We have legions who are here just for the paycheck and nothing more. This is the result of many polocies over the years that have destroyed careers and incomes.
I think people are afraid of the economy. This can cause short tempers and further fear of losing your job. However, 95% of it is the culture of FedEx brought into the mix. They think they can run a LTL company like a envelope/package company. I think they are slowly starting to understand that you can't do that. They are two different beasts with different needs and problems. The military style of running a package company does not work for a LTL company. Just ask any driver for UPS Freight. You can be a lot more intrusive in a package company because you can control a lot of the variables. Not so much in LTL. While a set can get stuck on a pass because of weather, that's not so for a 747. (For the most part)
Absolutely not. That's why this job has devolved into nothing more than a paycheck. You don't appreciate what I bring to the table after my years of experience, FU, then just leave me alone.
That's a tough one. I tell they young guys to get the hell out while they can. The old timers are kind of stuck. The grass always being greener and all. At least here, I know the failings of this company pretty well and can work within the limitations the company has put on productivity and growth. I'm not sure trading for another set of unknown problems would be worth it at this point. It's probably easier to just keep your head down and just chuckle when they bite themselves in the ass then try to recover their pride with a new "program" that lasts about as long as it takes to watch the DVD announcing it.