Just got my 4 year degree in IT when I started this government job. I worked contract, left by 2, it was great. Then I got a permanent position.
Constant on call, working during emergencies (and staying nights if the roads WASH AWAY), and the daily torture of constant anxiety and a boss who was already ready to flip his switch and lose his mind.
Today, I visited. It was eery. It had been over 2 years and the place was… Just the same. They got a 2% cost-of-living increase, like they do every year.
The same light flickered. The ancient systems I'd bandaged to work were still in heavy use and showing more of their age. IE is still installed across the user base. And still a team of 9 for the entire department.
I got to talk to my replacement. Making the exact same I did in 2018, without the 2% increases. They were never allowed to work from home across the pandemic, even though 7 of them could everyday and 2 others could probably do it half the time.
But, it's like Stockholm syndrome. “It's not so bad around here anymore! We had pizza last week!”
Even after hearing about how my life improved getting paid a living wage and being allowed to work from home, old boss says “well that's the economy for you!”
You make 120k per year. 4x your employees. Fuck right off.