There’s a lot more going on in her job than that. People cussing each other out. Backstabbing. Drama. It sounds miserable to me. But the lack of compassion part you are right.
Except for the cussing out, this is background noise. There's competition for the best roles/pay. If your wife repeatedly shows up late and has been formally reprimanded for it, that's a sign she's not working so hard for the next rung at her job's ladder, that a "backstab" should even be on the same page as cancer.
I earn a top 5% income. I've never spent much time thinking about office gossip. I know some delight in discussing who outmaneuvered who and who's getting the next promotion.
