Lack of professionalism and work ethic in Denver (transplants, living)

[stava]

I may get some hate for this, but here goes.

I've lived in some of the largest cities in the US, and I've worked in corporate environments in all of those locations. Since moving to Denver, I have found that, on the whole, there is a marked lack of professionalism and work ethic here. This isn't everyone of course, but it's significant enough that it's stood out to me.

People just don't seem to take work very seriously here. It's an attitude of laziness, a lack of urgency, and a lack of accountability. The corporate environments I've worked in here have had a sense of disorganization and disconnectedness that you just wouldn't find in larger cities. And, the unprofessional behavior that I've witnessed in the workplace here is insane, to the point where half of the things that people get away with would never, ever fly in larger cities, especially not on the east coast.

This has been my experience, and the experience of other transplants I've talked to about this. Again, it doesn't apply to everyone in Denver, but it's common enough to be notable. Has anyone else experienced this?

[katharsis]

My husband did in one of his earlier jobs, but this was about 25 years ago or so. He worked for a company that tolerated people leaving hours early and still paid them for a full day's work. They were a "party" company, even though it was an engineering firm (!!!) My husband stood it for about two years until he had enough of that general attitude and quit.

But that was the exception.

[maciesmom]

I haven't seen that in my position/company (large engineering firm).

It is different than the EC, though I wouldn't go so far as to call it unprofessional or lack of work ethic. More the understanding that work is not the be-all, end-all, followed by an hour or 2 commute to go home. And honestly not everything is as urgent as some make it out to be.

Edit after pondering...

Can you be more specific? In the close to 25 years with the same firm (all in Denver though I'm not originally from here and started my career elsewhere), I have noticed changes but I doubt they are Denver specific. Work attire has definitely changed - "business casual" is more the norm and "casual Fridays" means jeans. Suits are not typical everyday attire. The corporate world has changed to encompass flexible work schedules and teleworking- both of which have pluses and minuses regarding collaborative projects and office culture. Also - seems every time I turn around I'm hearing of mergers, buyouts and reorganizations (not just my company but most everywhere it seems). That does create chaos at work both in the organization and in employee morale as they face uncertain futures. The game has changed. I'm glad I'm not starting my career now to be honest.

[vunderbar]

Millennials are changing the culture of work. (And I say, good for them.) And yes, Denver's more mellow than the East -- though I wouldn't call it lack of professionalism or question the work ethic. I would characterize it as a desire to have a life outside of work. Which is a concept that's hard for some people in the East to understand. (OP, ever work in Europe? Boy would that open your eyes...)

[Willy702]

Does the work get done? Or do you believe professionalism is showing up, sitting at a desk many hours and then saying you work hard?

[davebarnes]

Have you been yelling at the kids to get off your lawn?

[COcheesehead]

When you point a finger at someone else, four fingers are pointing back at you.

[MountainEarth]

Relax dude. It’s Colorado. We recognize there’s more to life than work. Maybe that’s not your thing.

[jwiley]

A lot of people have moved or stayed in Colorado due to the lifestyle. It has never been a secret that we are less uptight and less dressy than east coast cities, but I do not know how that makes one less professional?

[downtownnola]

I have lived in Denver since 2004, minus a 2 year stint in Chicago.

Personally, I found the professional culture in Chicago exhausting. The norm was working excruciating hours, stepping all over your colleagues to "get ahead," and quite frankly, a lack of work/life balance. This general attitude seemed to lead to a culture of rudeness and aggression in the workplace. I'm sorry, but that cutthroat culture seems very unprofessional.

Denver has a more laid back corporate culture, and I for one, like that. It isn't laziness... I know that my colleagues and I work very hard through the week. But, we don't feel guilty for leaving work at a reasonable hour and living our lives. And that whole East coast thing of making work your identity is quite frankly, sad. I suspect that Denver is not a good fit for the OP.