I’m an immigrant working in the USA, I came here because of the promise of a better tomorrow, a meritocracy, a seat at the table at big tech, and for a while it felt real but then my company was acquired by a larger entity and it all went to shit, now I’m in a race to show I’m the most competent and dedicated person with the most technological knowledge to keep my job and not get layed off.
If I ask my manager or my director a question or challenge their thought process I get called into a 1 on 1 meeting where I’m told I’m a great asset to the team but me asking questions of them in a team setting sets a bad example, and my questions aren’t in bad faith infact in the meeting I was lauded for asking the right questions, but being pulled aside and being asked to kiss the ring felt disgusting.
At one point in my career I cared about what I did and who I worked for I felt pride over my product and my team, and all I feel now is shame to be associated with my company, I feel disgusted with myself that I work not for my customers but for shareholder value.
So I guess my question if any is are there still companies that exist in the USA or outside that still give a fuck about what they’re doing and not just inflate that companies value so it can be sold or keep the stock price going up.
I would love to live and work somewhere where my value isn’t determined by how much money I van make or how much shareholder value I increase, I wouldn’t have to worry about a visa and if I can/will be kicked out if I’m no longer employed.
I could go back home but the work culture there is atrocious it was the reason why I had left, I lasted 5 months and I couldn’t take it and put in my 2 weeks to go to the US for a Masters degree in Computer Sciences.
I’m sorry that this turned into more of a rant than anything else but I’m at a point where I don’t really know what I want to do anymore, any advice or conversation is appreciated.
By definition, no. You can volunteer for a non profit, like the Linux foundation, but you won’t make much money.
So its a yes then
Right, and in that case it would be best for me to move back home but the situation back home is quite dire, I have pressures from my parents to get married I’m 33 M from India and I’m hurdling towards my expiration date as it were in society, and the general situation in India insnt that great with religion and sex being the biggest points politicians exploit for a vote bank.
Are you an H1b worker? Yeah, you were most likely brought over because you’re easier to underpay and abuse. I’m sorry if that’s the case.
Yep I’m on h1b.
Yeah. I have a very strong suspicion that you were brought in to be cheap abusable labor. It sucks but that’s the point of the program.
Yep exactly, and now the industry is moving back to the 2008 model of offshore devs again, as were deemed too expensive even for the exploitative rate I get.