It seems that whenever someone shares a personal experience here of professional mistreatment or exploitation, people inevitably ask, “Why would you work there?” “Why don't you quit?” “Why don't you unionize?”
Too many of us default to scrutinizing a person for “allowing” themselves to be subjected to a substandard or abusive work environment instead of directing our outrage toward administrators and employers.
Many, many, many people cannot afford to be unemployed; they do not have the privilege of opting out of a job in which they are being mistreated or exploited, or cannot risk disciplinary action (like termination) by attempting to unionize or advocating for improved work conditions. This is not a new thing, either. Why do so many of us forget this?
Stop assuming that people have not already considered quitting a job in which they are mistreated, unionizing, or seeking alternative employment — in reality, lots of people just don't have many options.