Technical Program Manager

The most ridiculous reason I've seen a colleague get fired

So I joined a team at a tech company a few years ago. Initially, they had promised a great culture during interviews and later showed their true toxic colors citing management policies. We had this senior engineer who was brilliant. Now with appraisal season approaching, the management decided to collect a huge mandatory contribution for the big boss's birthday gift. My colleague politely declined because of personal finances. To this, the manager denied at first. Then he said he could skip it but his appraisal would get impacted. After further persuasion, he said, he would have not be given his bonus and he would have to pay the team for ruining the morale. The HR was no good either - toxic companies! They tried to break him every way possible when he was completely devastated by the constant harassment. He somehow held himself together and kept working after which he was abruptly terminated for a fake "culture fit" reason. Fast forward to yesterday on Monday, I found out he had applied for a small startup - they had a promising product. The manager from our old job and the founder were batchmates apparently. The manager reached out to the founder for his review (without telling him). And the manager, as expected, gave a very negative review. Thankfully, the startup looked forward to hire him given his expertise in the field. But how low do you have to stoop to ruin someone's career and be so insensitive all along just over a birthday gift. I am pretty sure, he did the same with another startup who was keen on hiring, asked for his documents and later ghosted. The VP there was a friend of the manager. It's been worrying me for a while, so wanted this out once and for all. Now that I am a manager, I give balanced feedback because i have learnt that people who probably do not thrive in one environment might do brilliantly in other setup. Who are we to judge? P.S. If you are ever in position of power, be neutral and empathetic to your juniors. Kindness goes a long way!

Why stoop so low ?

using a girl's trolling for their marketing 🤦

The most ridiculous piece of corporate jargon still haunts me

So I joined a big tech org as a fresher. Initially, they had quoted a massive CTC when they came for placements and later justified 80 hour weeks citing "ownership" and "leadership principles". I felt there was no integrity on their part and decided to leave the moment I joined. Now with eight months, I had delivered major features, and I was exhausted While serving my oncall rotation, a family member departed and I was devastated. I couldn't hold my tears back and wanted to take work from home for a few days. To this, the manager denied at first. Then he said I could take leaves but my promo doc would get delayed. After further persuasion, he said, I would have not be meeting the core principles and I would have to be put on a PIP for not showing enough ownership. The HR was no good either, big tech bureaucracy! They tried to break me every way possible when I was completely devastated. I somehow held myself together and completed my deliverables after which I was relieved of my duties. Fast forward to 2 years, I had applied for a senior role at another high paying place, they had a promising team. The hiring manager and my old manager were batchmates apparently. The hiring manager reached out to my old manager for my review (without telling me). And the old manager, as expected, gave a very negative review saying I lacked backbone. Thankfully, the new place looked forward to hire me given my expertise in system design. But how low do you have to stoop to ruin someone's career over forced attrition quotas and be so insensitive all along. I am pretty sure, he did the same with another dev who was keen on internal transfer, asked for their documents and later ghosted. The skip level there was a friend of the manager. It's been worrying me for a while, so wanted this out once and for all. Now that I am a tech lead, I give balanced feedback because i have learnt that people who probably do not thrive in toxic oncall environment might do brilliantly in other setup. Who are we to judge? P.S. If you are ever in position of power, be neutral and empathetic to your juniors. Kindness goes a long