How the hell are you supposed to have a career in tech in 2026? - Anil Dash

Started by rcjordan, January 05, 2026, 08:48:02 PM

Previous topic - Next topic
Print
Go Down Pages1
User actions

rcjordan

January 05, 2026, 08:48:02 PM

ergophobe

#1
January 05, 2026, 09:33:02 PM Last Edit: January 05, 2026, 09:34:51 PM by ergophobe
QuoteIt's an extraordinary moment in history when people who work on Wall Street tell me that even their HR departments wouldn't put up with the kind of bad behavior that we're seeing within the ranks of tech company execs.

I think I've told this before. When I was in college, my sister's company (DEC) hired out an entire amusement park for the day for employee appreciation. I was reading Marx and thought I had a rough handle on surplus labor and all that.

My sister said, "That is so you socialize with the other employees and feel like all your friends are at your job, so that even if you get offered better pay or better work somewhere else, you don't want to leave."

That always ran through my head when people would tell me about the amazing cafeteria and free massages at some tech company as they worked themselves into poor health to meet unnecessary deadlines imposed by VC rounds or whatever.  But they were treated so well, they didn't think to fight for a union or some sort of protections. And now that companies are shedding large numbers of workers, it's a tough time to take those stands.

Next time we talk, I have to remind my sister that I did in fact listen to her once despite significant evidence to the contrary.

rcjordan

#2
January 05, 2026, 10:01:16 PM
"What you may have missed is that half a million tech workers have been laid off in the years since ChatGPT was released"

I didn't miss it, but I didn't think tech layoffs added up to 500k.

ergophobe

#3
January 05, 2026, 10:19:23 PM
Same and same. Caught my eye too and seemed higher than I remembered

Some of it was overhiring during Covid. But 500,000?

rcjordan

#4
January 05, 2026, 10:44:46 PM
artistic license
Print
Go Up Pages1
User actions