Dear Prudence,
I am miserable in my current job. I was lied to about the details of the position, and while the workload is fine (even somewhat enjoyable), the company culture is insidious and cutthroat. It’s a tech startup, and the staff insist on a cheery “We’re all family here!” vibe. These people are not my family—we work together! Trying to force that dynamic feels insincere. Social events are framed as fun and optional but are really mandatory. I’ve been told to work Sundays and stay until 8 or 9 at night, even though I can get my work done during business hours, because it “shows dedication.” I was told in plain language that it is unacceptable for me to have a life outside of work and that the concept of a work-life balance was not something that would fly here.
I plan to quit as soon as I have enough money saved up for a safety net. Often I dream of writing a well-worded but harsh letter to my small team of co-workers letting them know what an alienating and crushing experience I had here. This job has convinced me I never want to work in this field again, and I plan on pursuing a career in education. Would emailing this letter and then cutting off contact come back to bite me in the ass? I feel like they deserve to know and understand how much emotional energy I’ve expended on top of my actual work, but I’m not sure if I’m correct or if this is just pseudo-righteous daydreaming.
—Leaving in a Blaze of Glory