The Bigger Problem Behind Bad Workplaces
Hi there,
When we look at companies with poor records of how they treat workers, it’s easy to blame the company. When managers mistreat employees, we blame management. When HR drops the ball, we blame HR.
Each of these is a problem, but they are all part of a larger issue: the system itself. A system that isn’t designed to support individuals who don’t fit the mold or serve the company’s agenda.
We are all part of this system, and it runs on motivations that can’t be pinned on one person alone. It’s easier to focus on a single target, but the truth is that all these pieces work together to create the environments we live and work in. That’s why it’s important not to blame yourself, and not to blame just one part, but to understand that on multiple levels, we are all just trying to survive the best way we can.
— Wesley Faulkner
Survival Tactic: Mourning What’s Lost, Moving Around What’s Broken
In 2019 I landed my dream job. I loved working with people on my team, building a product that brought real innovation to a stale space. About a month in, a new vice president was hired, and everything changed.
They fired my manager. They moved me to a different team. They changed my title and my work. Suddenly, the job I loved became a waking nightmare.
I struggled to adjust until I went to a counselor who specialized in mourning. That’s exactly what I needed, because I had to mourn the job I lost in order to move forward. They gave me two pieces of advice that have stuck with me ever since:
Take notes, capture the story.
One day this would be a powerful story, they said. So I should document not just what I did, but what was happening around me. This shifted me from wallowing in the past to staying present and making sense of the moment.Don’t go through it head-on. Go around it.
My instinct had been to confront every negative question, accusation, or bias with data and facts. I was always on defense. The counselor asked me: If someone else were in this situation, what advice would you give them? My answer was clear: stop running into the wall. Go around it.
When I shifted from head-on refutation to finding ways to navigate around obstacles, whether people, processes, or unfair attacks, I regained a sense of control. I was no longer only defending myself. I was choosing how to shape my environment.
I hope these two lessons help you the way they helped me: document what’s happening, and remember that sometimes the best path forward is not through, but around.
➡️ If you have a survival tip you would like to share, click the button below to submit it for the next newsletter.
The System is Broken: The Proof is all Around Us
Misogyny in Tech (Published September 5, 2025)
Baroness Martha Lane Fox warns that misogyny is spreading across the tech industry, creating toxic environments for women and amplifying existing inequalities. via The Times
Former EEOC Worker Alleges Hostile Environment (Published September 5, 2025)
A transgender former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission staffer alleges they were subjected to a hostile work environment, underscoring how even agencies meant to enforce workplace protections are failing their employees. via HR Dive
Job Openings and Layoffs Rise (Published September 3, 2025)
The latest JOLTS report shows job openings are down while layoffs and discharges are rising, reflecting a cooling labor market and shifting leverage back toward employers. via CNN
Microsoft Engineer Dies at 35 (Published September 3, 2025)
A 35-year-old Microsoft engineer died at work, with family citing overwork as a contributing factor. The tragedy highlights the extreme toll that toxic expectations and burnout culture can take. via People
Site Updates: Fixes and Progress
The automation for social posts is now live on LinkedIn, Bluesky, and Mastodon. If you follow those accounts, let me know what you think. Your feedback will help me fine-tune the experience and make sure the content serves you.
These posts will include articles and sourced material that speak to what we are all experiencing in the industry. Think of them as companion pieces to the newsletter, with extra context and insights that do not always fit here. The Survival Tactics will continue to be exclusive to the newsletter, but social will be a steady stream of signals and stories that remind us we are not alone.
As always, I would love to hear what is working and what should change. This project is meant to support you, and your input shapes how it grows.
Spread the Word: Strength in Numbers
Know someone stuck in a job with no clear way out? Forward this issue and help them join the community now. Together we can build a space where no one has to face work struggles alone.
For those who want to help grow this project, click here to fill out the volunteer survey. Any support is appreciated.
You can always find previous newsletters here.
The "Spread the Word" button below will allow you to share a link to the signup page with your contacts. That way others can easily join the newsletter and become part of the community. Please click the button and share it with your network so we help more people. As always, keep the feedback coming.