Yes, I do, but I've worked at the same small (relative to a FAANG) company for over 12 years (20+ years working professionally). During that time I've proven myself have good ideas even when they are controversial, perform above average, and admit when I've been wrong or failed.
I probably get paid less I could elsewhere, and there is probably some big fish in a small pond effect going on, but part of the the reason I stay is that one thing I don't have to worry about is psychological safety.
Ask HN: Do you feel psychological safety at your job?
71–80 of 131 posts
Re: Ask HN: Do you feel psychological safety at your job?
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
… cancel culture is about holding people accountable… It’s not about canceling employees because of dissenting at work.
That is probably the most charitable interpretation of the phenomenon possible. I do not think it is about holding people accountable at all, I think it is a new way to enforce shifting social norms that allows people to judge others without being ‘judgy.’
Please name a single instance of an individual being “cancelled” for anything but bigotry, hatred, violence, or dangerous rhetoric. I’ll wait.
People aren’t being cancelled for speaking their minds. They’re being cancelled when speaking their minds is literally offensive to small and large groups of people.
Almost every time someone is complaining about cancel culture, what they’re really complaining about is being held accountable for the dumb shit they say or want to say.
Also, “shifting social norms”, lol, from what to what, if you don’t mind me asking?!
Edit: you can downvote me but you can’t produce a single example.
Re: Ask HN: Do you feel psychological safety at your job?
#73Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you get used to making some money and think you can rely on it, you might make commitments to spend it. Then if your income drops, suddenly you are at risk of breaking those commitments. This can happen at literally any income level.
...or you might choose not to make unreasonable commitments and save aggressively...
"reasonable" is doing a big job there. What's reasonable? Unreasonable?
0 is the only properly reasonable value when you're considering potentially have 0 income. Don't make any commitments
Re: Ask HN: Do you feel psychological safety at your job?
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
Referring to yourself as a "subject" is a very unhealthy worldview. There are a lot of bad bosses, but there are a lot of great ones who regularly put their neck on the line for the teams they serve. It sounds like you've had some bad experiences, but you should not generalize them to the whole world.
Well, could go either way on the healthy/unhealthiness of it. I would argue that it's accurate though. I've had good bosses too! They're not demons, just doing their job. It doesn't change that relation between us though: I'm subject to their whim, for payment. We're not peers, not collaborators, it's a hierarchical relationship of dependence with clear boundaries. I recognize the lines can be more blurred with more…
Definitely identify with this viewpoint -- I've heard the same feedback around the worldview being "unhealthy" but I would actually argue it is more accurate and provides clarity for me in regards to my relationship with my work. The main positive as I see it is in avoiding frustrations stemming from things completely out of my control.
Re: Ask HN: Do you feel psychological safety at your job?
#75Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you get used to making some money and think you can rely on it, you might make commitments to spend it. Then if your income drops, suddenly you are at risk of breaking those commitments. This can happen at literally any income level.
...or you might choose not to make unreasonable commitments and save aggressively...
“What’s the point of having money if you’re not going to spend it?”
Combine that idea with a bit of overconfidence, and you’ll find all sorts of expensive ways to improve the lives of yourself and your family.
Re: Ask HN: Do you feel psychological safety at your job?
#76Earlier quoted context omitted.
It’s not though - when you look at what really “drives” the relationship. You trade your labor for money in a system designed to keep us so anxious, we will accept as little wage as possible, by the same capital owning class. We are subject to their desires as they are bound, by law, to choose profit for shareholders over employees. We are their subjects. “Ain’t no war but class war” applies to us in tech as much as…
I’m sorry, but your description of a relationship with an employer doesn’t match mine at all. I don’t feel anxious. I feel comfortable. I don’t accept as little as possible. I negotiate with the knowledge that I have options. I don’t toil in the mines for 80 hours a week to barely afford to feed myself. I spend 40-50 hours a week doing something I rather enjoy, and for that, I’m paid a salary that affords a lifestyle…
Your employer can also choose to terminate that relationship at any time. No problem, you could just get a job at another shop, right? Except when the black swan appears and all the other companies are doing layoffs and freezes, flooding the market with talent while limiting positions. Then, in that hour of crisis, is the true nature of the relationship revealed at last.
Re: Ask HN: Do you feel psychological safety at your job?
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
Most Americans don’t have $1000 in savings.
And? Thats fking pathetic and nearly every single healthy, unburdened FAANG engineer should be deahtly embarrassed to find themselves in such a situation. But for those reading this who are "crying in bathrooms", what does it say about your lifestyle thst you likely made 2-3x my salary, and yet i walked away from tech for years while youre somehow fearful of making ends meet? I eat what i want, i have money for more…
You’re mad at the wrong demographic. Direct your anger higher up, not at people working and not at regular ass people who are willing and able to save, but also have life obligations that make that difficult. The upper middle class isn’t the actual enemy, despite their accessibility & visibility to you which, I know, can be grating.
Re: Ask HN: Do you feel psychological safety at your job?
#78Earlier quoted context omitted.
I understand that my boss is not my friend, but to describe oneself as a “subject” is not something I relate to. In fact, I think it’s absurdly dramatic.
It’s not though - when you look at what really “drives” the relationship. You trade your labor for money in a system designed to keep us so anxious, we will accept as little wage as possible, by the same capital owning class. We are subject to their desires as they are bound, by law, to choose profit for shareholders over employees. We are their subjects. “Ain’t no war but class war” applies to us in tech as much as…
I know the feel, but I also think this is misplaced anxiety. Work can be difficult, stressful, feel pointless, etc, which is why we get paid to do it. And you need some level of stress to get over the hump and get it done, to fight off complacency. The problem starts when we start blaming the person telling us what to do, for having to do it.
Re: Ask HN: Do you feel psychological safety at your job?
#79Earlier quoted context omitted.
That is probably the most charitable interpretation of the phenomenon possible. I do not think it is about holding people accountable at all, I think it is a new way to enforce shifting social norms that allows people to judge others without being ‘judgy.’
Please name a single instance of an individual being “cancelled” for anything but bigotry, hatred, violence, or dangerous rhetoric. I’ll wait. People aren’t being cancelled for speaking their minds. They’re being cancelled when speaking their minds is literally offensive to small and large groups of people. Almost every time someone is complaining about cancel culture, what they’re really complaining about is being h…
Donglegate would like a word with you.
Re: Ask HN: Do you feel psychological safety at your job?
#80It's a bloody job. I have no right to a job. You have no right to a job. I just maintain and grow my skills and demonstrate my value as best I can until the day I'm no longer needed. Then on to the next thing. Psychological safety doesn't exist.
Interestingly there seem to be (at least) 2 schools of thought popular in the US:
1. I have no right to a job. I should earn one myself, or make my own thing. Pull myself up by my bootstraps. Etc.
2. Business owners and landlords are the ruling class. They have an obligation to support us in the form of jobs or housing. Etc.