Is office politics a perpetual thing at every workplace?

I graduated this year and have been working as an intern in this company for a few months, full time now. And at first, everything seemed okay. People were okay to talk to, the managers were polite, etc. But as I've gotten to know them better.....all I see is the silent drama that goes on about the most petty things. My 35-ish manager has the ego of a 15 year old teenager and thinks he's hiding it well by talking 'nicely'. There's this whole unsaid division in the team where one side is the suck-ups and they're all best friends with each other and have this "us and them" thing going and no points for guessing, the manager loves them. They'll literally share every little thing with the guy, basically snitching on the rest of the people. And the other people are just at odds with the manager and his gang for whatever reason. The other day, the manager passed a comment about 'masturbation' on some other guy. This kinda thing really makes me not want to work here. Apologies if this feels unstructured, I'm tired after a 10-hour work day.

In the corporate landscape, the pervasive influence of office politics can have profound and adverse effects on individual employees, leading to a disconcerting phenomenon: the silent neglect of valuable team members. One of the most alarming consequences of office politics is the deliberate and unjustified ignorance that certain employees face, jeopardizing not only their professional growth but also the overall health of the work environment. At the heart of this issue lies the violation of the fundamental principles of fairness and meritocracy. When employees are overlooked or deliberately ignored due to office politics, it undermines the very essence of a collaborative and equitable workplace. This practice not only stifles the individual's potential but also erodes the trust and camaraderie essential for a high-functioning team. The ignored employee often grapples with feelings of isolation and disillusionment. This emotional toll can manifest as a decline in morale, job satisfaction, and overall well-being. Consequently, the employee's productivity and enthusiasm may dwindle, creating a ripple effect that compromises the team's overall performance. Moreover, the sidelining of talented individuals due to office politics deprives organizations of diverse perspectives and innovative contributions. A workplace that fosters exclusionary practices based on political maneuvering is inherently at risk of stifling creativity and impending progress. In the long run, this detrimental impact on innovation can hinder the company's ability to adapt to a rapidly changing business landscape. Addressing this issue requires a commitment to cultivating a transparent and inclusive organizational culture. Leaders must actively discourage and rectify instances of office politics, promoting a merit-based system that values each employee's unique skills and contributions.

I joined a new org a few months ago, from my observation folks who struggle at their job are the ones who form a group of similar people and indulge in gossip, they are always scheming and always on extra alert mode if anyone is listening to their conversation. All this seems to be childish while observing from a distance. I think if you are unhappy with your job you should prepare and switch. I'm curious if other people have had similar observations

I always heard about the office politics but never faced. But in my current company, I got caught up with the petty dirty office politics. Manager keeps his ass safe by not taking any actions. He’s also one of them though. People take complete advantage of his inaction and lick his boot to safeguard themselves. Behaviour takes u-turn when the manager is not around. Mediocre behaviour and no intent to do better. One of the worst experience of my life. Have to get out.

So basically the title. By abroad here I mean western countries such as UK, USA, Europe, Canada and also includes Australia. If office politics is an Indian phenomenon then why is it so and how we can make Indian corporate setup healthy?

I've recently come across this phrase several times on this app. And people also mean different things when they say this phrase. Someone meant product requirement discussions and meetings. Someone else meant dynamics among team members in a team I wanted to understand what people mean when they say this. Especially in the context of saying a company is bad to join because of 'office politics'. Looking for a switch so wanted to get this clarified

I don’t think they add any value but just keep seeking credit for others work.

Corporate/Startup culture that needs to be changed: * Office Politics * Favoritism or favors given towards an employee * Micromanagement * Explanations for every leave taken * Glorifying Overworking * Expecting staff to be available 24/7 * Meetings that could have been an email * Unsympathetic Layoffs * Non Appreciating Behavior * Credits due to an employee * More than 3 rounds of job interviews