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Funny you should ask - I just saw this:

> You don’t realize the heavy conscious and mental burden that comes with being a Facebook employee until you quit

https://twitter.com/sebmck/status/1275363680767537154




Probably could replace "Facebook" with just about any company in that sentence. Having to uphold "company values", live by some boss's petty rules, take HR initiatives seriously, etc, is pretty much universally frustrating.


>>> You don’t realize the heavy conscious and mental burden that comes with being a Facebook employee until you quit

>> https://twitter.com/sebmck/status/1275363680767537154

> Probably could replace "Facebook" with just about any company in that sentence. Having to uphold "company values", live by some boss's petty rules, take HR initiatives seriously, etc, is pretty much universally frustrating.

Eh, I don't think so. This is the second tweet in that thread:

> Imagine not being complicit in social disorder and political interference. It’s pretty nice. Imagine not being ashamed to tell people where you work. Even better.

I work for an (old, non-SV) company with a pretty decent workplace culture, while I don't like some things about it, the company's products and values are OK and eye-rolly "HR initiatives" can be pretty much ignored if you choose. I don't feel any "mental burden" or shame for working here.


I can attest to the difference. I've worked in consulting and directly for companies, both more and less evil.

There is a palpable difference from company culture to culture.

If you work at a place where (a) you disagree with your company's ethical and moral standards and/or (b) you feel purported standards rarely influence actual decisions, then there are absolutely companies not like that.

Sure, you still have to deal with HR stuff, anti-union posturing, and sharp business practices. But fundamentally, it feels different.

I'd say most companies can be binary classified into "value their values" or "ignore their values".


Nah, most companies just want their employees to do their jobs. It's only these Silicon Valley cults that expect everyone to drink the koolaid about "values" and center your personal identity around your job.

If you don't believe this, go get a job at a lumber yard or a warehouse or something.

Related reading:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/558867.Disciplined_Minds

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34466958-bullshit-jobs


>It's only these Silicon Valley cults that expect everyone to drink the koolaid about "values" and center your personal identity around your job.

I can't understand why you're being down ranked for what is objectively the truth.

I've a long career inside and outside tech and this is consistent with my experience. Tech companies are uniquely toxic in the sheer volume of koolaid you're expected to digest to merely maintain your job there.

A tech company not filled to the brim with HR crap would be a breath of fresh air at this point.

Maybe many here simply haven't worked outside of tech?


You don't think there's a severe mental burden associated with having to clock in and out, reprimands for being 6 minutes late, only being allowed to visit a doctor if it's on the health plan's list, few opportunities for advancement, work quotas, can't leave early to pick up a sick kid from school, etc etc?

Not to mention most warehouse workers don't make nearly enough to have the luxury of quitting.


Not all companies equally, though, and I think that's the point here.




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