I've observed a concerning trend: the working environment within our industry is increasingly toxic, with trust eroding steadily within companies. More and more firms are resorting to performance improvement plans (PIPs) as a cheap and silent way for downsizing, even targeting previously high-performing individuals. Trust between managers and individual contributors (ICs), as well as between employees and employers, is diminishing. Work ethics are deteriorating as employees perceive consistent dishonesty and breach of promises from management. With management failing to cultivate trust among employees, the latter are resorting to safeguarding evidence for potential legal action against their employers. Consequently, there's been a rise in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) cases, reflecting a growing number of managers being unprofessional. The escalating stress and anxiety levels stem from managers' excessive scrutiny, micromanagement, and potential humiliation of employees. This atmosphere has transformed the workplace into a battlefield where trust is a casualty. Should this toxic culture persist, it could lead employees to prioritize their individual interests over those of the company, further undermining long-term benefits. This poses a serious threat that warrants immediate attention and intervention. Are companies truly indifferent to the escalating toxicity of its culture, or is it that management is prioritizing favorable financial figures to secure their bonuses, and if the company performs poorly, they simply move on to the next opportunity? #tech #pip #layoff
Apathy mostly. It's a negative self perpetuating cycle. People start to check out with these layoffs and the continual off shoring (no fault of anyone but corporate bottom line and stakeholders come first).
You just posted what exactly I am going through
Because the industry is in a recession and everyone is replaceable with better talent. It's cyclical, but that's what drives the cycle. If mgmt believes external hires are better or cheaper, progressively management treats you less well. Opposite happens when the calculus flips. The highest levels of tech companies right now are high on the AI boom and thinking they will need less engineers in the future. They are fucking morons but until all of this plays out we shovel the shit. It's not the first time in my career the cycle flipped, it'll flip again. Just business.
I think that by allowing workplace culture to deteriorate, companies are essentially burning bridges for themselves. While companies do have laws in place to protect their trade secrets and reputation, the reality is that they can only take legal action if they have sufficient evidence. In today's technological landscape, employees with strong technical skills can manipulate situations in a way that prevents their employer from obtaining evidence. Additionally, companies often engage in practices that reside in a gray area, and losing the trust of employees could potentially lead them to exploit the company's vulnerabilities. While culture is probably not important in short-term, and toxic culture may lead to big management bonus, it is not in the best interest of shareholders or the company's long-term sustainability to allow the culture to continue deteriorating.If this becomes the new norm, it signifies a failure in corporate governance, and the negative consequences will inevitably manifest in the long run. Boeing is a great example of that.
Pull your head out of the clouds. The only reason we're treated better than fast food workers or construction workers is there aren't enough of us. Trust doesn't matter when you're hungry.
Always has been. We had a couple of nice years when companies were struggling to staff so made efforts to attract/retain. That’s over and we’re back to trying to squeeze as much productivity as possible.
I've also observed that Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) have become increasingly prevalent among small and mid-size companies as a means of downsizing. These companies aim to avoid being perceived as financially troubled and strive to maintain a positive image for their investors. Consequently, they often resort to using PIPs as a downsizing tool, regardless of how employees may feel about it. I believe this article summarizes the situation accurately: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sneaky-pip-how-companies-cut-costs-downturn-avoid-being-kostova I understand that in at-will employment, there's no obligation for anyone to prioritize your personal feelings, and companies aren't required to cater to them. What concerns me is how this trend seems to be becoming the new normal without any questioning of its ethical implications. It appears that many in the industry believe that as long as actions are legal, ethical and moral considerations can be disregarded. If this mindset persists, employees feel justified in betraying their former employers, as they might not see the need to uphold professionalism and work ethics if they weren't reciprocated by the company.
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I am feeling the same, but one thing I would say is that mass social media isn't as developed as 5-10 years ago, so a lot of these things did happen before but the only time you would hear it is from friend circles. Social media makes sharing significantly easier, so I am curious if this is more frequency bias or we actually do have an increase. In either case, it's a horrible problem and we should address it.