Senior Software Engineer

People who don't speak up

A little about me before the question. I'm a confrontational guy in general but I choose my timing. So people who do not confront especially in an office setting. It can be saying NO to managers when they are being unreasonable, speaking up for your interests or calling out bad behaviour. What is your reasoning behind it?

Are you getting underpaid?! I know it sucks🤦🏻

Let's talk about being highly underpaid. It's a reality many of us face, yet it's often shrouded in silence. Whether you're in a corporate job, a creative field, or any profession, feeling undervalued and underpaid can be demoralizing and unjust. It's not just about the numbers on our paycheck; it's about the recognition of our worth, our skills, and our contributions. Too often, we find ourselves in situations where our hard work and dedication are not adequately compensated. We put in long hours, go above and beyond our job descriptions, and yet, when it comes time to discuss salaries, we're met with excuses or paltry raises that barely keep pace with inflation. It's a cycle that perpetuates feelings of frustration, resentment, and even imposter syndrome. But here's the thing: We don't have to accept being undervalued. We can speak up, advocate for ourselves, and demand fair compensation for our efforts. It might be uncomfortable, and it might require us to challenge the status quo, but it's essential for our well-being and the integrity of our professions. Employers need to recognize the importance of fairly compensating their employees. It's not just about the bottom line; it's about fostering a culture of respect, appreciation, and mutual benefit. When employees feel valued and adequately compensated, they're more engaged, productive, and loyal. So, if you're feeling highly underpaid, know that you're not alone. It's a widespread issue that deserves attention and action. Whether it's through salary negotiations, seeking out better opportunities, or advocating for change within our organizations, let's stand together and demand the compensation we deserve. Because when we value ourselves, others will too.

Can not talk about this at work

People call it a culture mismatch, but it is basically a non-hurting way of saying, "Yup, we just do not like your vibe." Harsh, but this is the reality for most of us who are just trying to do our jobs. Average performance, decent metrics, and zero visibility. This was my coworker. He had no major expectations from leadership, wasn't fighting for promotions, and avoided office politics. Even when he was let go this past Monday, people forgot his existence by today, Wednesday. He got pushed out for nothing. During town halls, he never asked forced questions but later management complained he wasn't visibly engaged. Pretty average corporate behavior. Though his deliverables were solid, he got zero recognition, whereas our mates just post about organizing virtual fun events or talking about their weekend with the director, and they get the highest ratings. No one looked at his actual output. He was just a silent worker. It is better to be at the incompetent end of things than stuck being quietly competent. In the middle, you do most of the work, but loud seniors take away the credit. You fix the bugs, but the other ends enjoy the praise. People barely consider your effort. There is no major respect from management, and no one really cares about your actual deliverables. So, you lose out here too. But why are companies like this? Didn't he work when required? Didn't he deliver quality? He did both, but only without the performative clapping. Then management brought in a new VP, and that is where he lost. Just doing the work, without the corporate cheerleading, led him to being fired. And why is it called a culture issue? Because the majority are faking it. Anything genuine loses value, just like him. The problem with this place? We know all this, yet we still do not speak up, and then complain about unfairness. I do not have a solution for this, and I will keep crying over the fact that hard work means nothing.