I worked for 5 years, making medical explainer videos and animations for a major hospital. Over those years, working for their video marketing department I created an animation workflow from scratch, a medium they used to completely have to outsource. I also was prevented from collaborating with the design department and had to both design and animate every project. The thing that blew my mind was the fact that my department was run by dinosaurs who couldn’t see the use for motion graphics and animation beyond titles / lower-thirds for their documentary style videos. The hospital paid for me to get a graduate degree from one of the country’s top art schools… still no advancement beyond my introductory rate. After years of begging for advancement into a position which would utilize the resources of both the design and video departments, I was finally encouraged… told it would inevitably happen if I was willing to step up and start attending daily managerial meetings. Trouble was, I wasn’t going to be given a raise… because of Covid. HELL NAW. I took a month long vacation and then came back, before immediately quitting. Everyone from the head of my department down begged me to stay and asked if there was anything they could do to keep me. Too late. Having run a little side hustle for years, I decided it would be better to work for myself and see if I could run an ethical / equitable business. 8 months later, I’ve moved my office out of my guest bedroom and into my dream studio space. In 2022, I’m easily going to make twice my annual salary at the old job. I name my own price now. Best decision I’ve ever made and it is 100% thanks to this thread. Corporations don’t actually care about individuals. Determine your worth and seize it y’all!