I started my career in the tech industry a little over ten years ago. I had nothing but great things to say about my experience in the industry (in a multitude of roles across 3 companies). I regularly bragged about livable wages, great work/life balance, generous benefits, and more. I had a 16 week maternity leave that I extended an extra week due to daycare waitlists – simply emailed my manager “hey can I get another week” and he said “sure np” and that was literally it. Was encouraged to take mental health breaks, never dealt with micromanagement, felt like my managers had interesting and reasonable goals, I could go on.
What the hell happened?? My current (4th) company is tech-adjacent and it is a goddamn nightmare. Insane micromanagement, constant false sense of urgency, looming layoffs, feeling punished for taking PTO, stagnant wages and slashed bonuses, just garbage. I thought about returning to one of my former employers, but folks still there say the same thing. Nothing is perfect, but when I think what the managers and issues I complained about 5 years ago, they are laughably minor. It’s like a 180 degree change, why is this happening??