Who Is This Community For?
Hi there,
If you have ever felt stuck in a role with no clear way forward, questioned whether your manager actually sees your contributions, or wondered if the system was designed to exhaust you instead of help you grow, this community is for you.
Work’s Not Working is built for anyone who has experienced the quiet cracks in the system: biased reviews, invisible labor, performative values, or leadership that is out of touch with reality. It is for people who know that surviving the workplace often takes as much strategy as doing the work itself. And most importantly, it is for those who don’t want to navigate this alone.
You are not imagining it. The system really is broken. But here, you are among people who see it too, who are sharing strategies, and who are building new ways to outsmart it together.
I’m glad you are here with us.
If you want to hear more about my own evolution in thinking about how work systems operate, you can hear me chat about it in this podcast episode: Radical Respect Podcast, Season 3, Episode 3.
— Wesley Faulkner
Survival Tactic: Be the Change You Want to See
When in an oppressive situation, the natural reaction is to hyper-focus on your own survival. You make sure you take care of yourself, meet your own goals, avoid mistakes, protect your image, and stay as safe as possible. The result is even more isolation. People genuinely disconnect from one another, stop investing in each other, and the system’s control grows stronger because the support structures that bond people together fade away.
This separation is what makes people feel alone. The way to combat this loneliness is to be the change you want to see. You may not be able to change the situation, but you can change your perspective.
Make a note of the things you wish others would say to you. For instance:
“I just want to check in and see how you’re doing.”
“I saw the idea you raised in the meeting and thought it was brilliant.”
“I noticed when your manager cut you off, and I want you to know that wasn’t cool.”
“You’re doing great with your deliverables, and I want you to know your work is seen.”
Now, instead of waiting for these words, offer them to others. Share support and recognition. Be that voice that helps someone else keep going. This might not change the system overnight, but it creates hope and connection. That, in itself, is a quiet act of rebellion.
➡️ 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
Coinbase CEO on AI Firings (Published August 22, 2025)
Coinbase’s CEO explained why engineers who did not immediately adopt AI were let go. His stance highlights how quickly companies are shifting expectations and how failing to keep pace with new tools can cost workers their jobs. via TechCrunch
Wage Growth Slows (Published August 22, 2025)
CNBC reports that wage growth is cooling, with job switchers seeing smaller bumps in pay and job stayers losing ground. The slowdown shows how leverage is shifting away from employees after several years of stronger gains. via CNBC
Black Women Face Rising Joblessness (Published August 26, 2025)
Joblessness for Black women is rising even as the broader labor market cools. According to S&P Global, the disparity underscores systemic inequities that remain persistent across the workforce. via S&P Global
Site Updates: Fixes and Progress
I’ve started rolling out social automation to post more consistently on Bluesky, Mastodon, and LinkedIn. The first test on Bluesky was a success, and I plan to finish deploying to the other two platforms over the long weekend. Expect to see short pieces of the newsletter and other tips shared there. But remember, the full survival tactics will remain exclusive to this newsletter.
These consistent posts are meant to help people feel less alone and to raise awareness that this group exists to support them.
As promised, here’s a link for those who want to help grow this project. That could mean sharing a post, amplifying the message in your circles, or leveraging your network for more exposure. If you’re interested, click the link below to fill out the survey. Thank you again for your continued support.
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.
They want us to feel isolated, like our struggles are ours alone. But the more we come together, the fewer of us will fall through the cracks. Every new subscriber strengthens this network and makes it harder for broken systems to silence or divide us.
Previous newsletters can always be found here.
The "Spread the Word" button 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 below and share it widely so we help more people. As always, keep the feedback coming.