Pros
Talented, emotionally intelligent coworkers (below leadership level) Opportunity to build things from the ground up—if you're willing to do it alone Exposure to chaos at scale, which can be instructive in hindsight
Cons
Toxic leadership culture masked by “niceness.” Feedback is vague, goals shift constantly, and once you're no longer a favorite, you're disposable. Accommodations = retaliation. If you disclose chronic illness or request protected leave, you will be micromanaged, isolated, and gaslit under the guise of “support.” HR is performative at best, complicit at worst. Complaints are ignored, deflected, or used against you. Personal boundaries are blurred. Leadership conflates loyalty with silence and expects emotional availability that crosses professional lines. High turnover, zero accountability. Brilliant people leave in waves. The exit pattern is clear: speak up, get pushed out.
