+40 Working for a big corporation is actually great and I'm tired of pretending it's not. amirite?

by SilverCandle 1 week ago

I spent most of my life working for little companies, thinking it was better. Then I got a job with a big company, and all of a sudden I had cool things like benefits, work clothes discounts, time and a half for overtime (was unheard of in my industry before, and still hit or miss even today with small companies). Always used to think big companies screw you over, but reality is small companies are so much shadier! You may be "just a number" to a big company, but it's actually better that way.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It definitely is. I went from working at an incredibly popular company and really felt I didn't have a life working for them until I switched into a fairly smaller one. Benefits are way better and we get at least one day off a month that we can pick. It really depends on the company for great benefits but in the end, as long it's a job that keeps food on the table.

by Prestigious-Day 1 week ago

Dude, small companies still rock and you can get even better benefits if you're in a lucrative enough business. My boss just took all 6 of us down to St. Croix for a week. They paid for our flights, booked us bungalows on the beach, and covered all food and drinks. I still get time and a half when I work over 40 hours, so much free merchandise for supporting the business, I get 3 weeks worth of PTO and travel is heavily encouraged. I work between a hotel/event center and wear a lot of hats but the only stipulation is we can't vacation between June-October because that's our busy season and we're a smaller staff. But I have nowhere near the same freedom that I would have at a corporate job when it comes to attire, flexibility for hours, quality of coworkers, and even my paycheck. But hey, I do have to figure out my own health insurance and retirement, so take the good with the bad. IMO it's a much better experience working for local sustainability than being a cog in the machine.

by Brief_Drummer 1 week ago

I wasted 3 years of my life working for a small business tyrant. Never again.

by Head-Attempt 1 week ago

small companies are so much shadier Not exactly. It's more that they can't afford to compete with the big companies. Once the big companies put the small ones out of business, though, they won't need to offer as much for their employees.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

That's honestly what I think. Smaller businesses are more limited in terms of what they can offer, and can't really afford to compete with big companies on every front. It makes me wonder how much big companies essentially "lovebomb" employees until they have a monopoly.

by jamaalchristian 1 week ago

I think a bit part of it is that each small company is very dependent on whether the boss is nice or not, so extreme highs and lows. In larger companies you are more likely to get the average.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

and in smaller companies its also easier to fire people right?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's harder to fire in a smaller company. But generally a bigger company you won't be fired for stuff like maternity and paternity leave.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

In my industry (which sounds to be similar to OP's) the small companies are typically horrible compared to the bigger ones. They pay poorly, poor safety and don't realize the value of happy motivated employees. My brother in law has worked in the agriculture industry for years for mom and pop type farms and it blows my mind how horrible the working conditions are.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

This definitely isn't consistent lol.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I worked mostly for chains as a waiter, and then I did one where I was working with a franchisee, basically a mom and pop because they were always there. The nepotism, family drama, and having to put up with the family is a headache. I liked working for faceless corporations because there was less nepotism going on. My last job the manager hired her whole family to work there, basically pushing everyone out. Glad I didn't stay.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

You're just a number that's actually gonna get paid. And in smaller companies you're still just a number there's just a smaller number of numbers.

by elliotrodriguez 1 week ago

The bread crumbs are certainly bigger! lol

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I'm the opposite. Worked for a bulge bracket investment bank for 8 years. Then moved to a mid-sized firm in the same field. Never going back.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

That all depends on the company and the position. Not all experiences are the same. I'm glad it's been such a great thing for you.

by Otilia39 1 week ago

And the human race would go extinct due to no babies

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Have you considered that other people don't have the same experience as you in other roles?.. Sounds like you got a good thing going for you, which is great. But it is hardly unpopular, most people would be happy in your position. Ask any poor sucker making minimum wage or below 60k a year if they would like to make 100k and work only 14 days a month, who is going to say no?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I guess the real unpopular opinion I have is that I shouldn't feel guilty for benefiting from the system.

by SilverCandle 1 week ago

Crab bucket mentality. People like to pull others down to their level.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I definitely agree with that. The majority of people that have my skill set are nearing retirement, so the company has a vested interest in keeping younger techs around.

by SilverCandle 1 week ago

Can I ask exactly what your Job is? I'm 33 and considering getting out of software/white collar works.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Nice job man. That's how to do it

by Embarrassed_Pitch 1 week ago

doing well in the system isn't class treason

by Anonymous 1 week ago

You shouldn't. You earned it. Just remember to pass it forward.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

You shouldn't feel guilty if you're sticking it to "the man". All I'm saying is don't be asshole about money, and preferably in general.not saying you are, but it's always helpful to hear it time to time

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I grew up pretty poor. My parents worked in restaurants, my dad was an illegal immigrant who was paying off back taxes to the IRS, and when 2008 hit, it hit us HARD. Weeks without power at home, them going without so I could eat. For as long as I live and no matter how much I earn, I'll never forget that. My wife and I volunteer monthly at the local community outreach organization we donate to, and as my kids get older, they will be as well. Financial security is nice, but I feel it can insulate you from the realities of the world and give people who have always had it a very narrow point of view.

by SilverCandle 1 week ago

You are literally working class. Why should you feel guilty for participating in a system you were forced to participate in.

by Scary_Bandicoot6286 1 week ago

Don't feel guilty, I work for a massive corp. and I absolutely love it myself. My life took a massive leap after giving up my union position and going private!

by Turcottenicola 1 week ago

Do you feel like you're expected to feel guilty? Admittedly, many folks in worse situations can be jealous of and bitter towards those who don't struggle financially. Does that mean that it's a popular opinion that people with solid careers paying decently have something to feel guilty over? I'm not so sure.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I think we are discussing two different things: someone thinking you need to feel guilty for having a steady income and solid career, vs someone thinking you need to feel guilty for being employed by a defense contractor. But I will certainly agree that very few people are going to expect someone to feel guilty for being able to have a middle class life.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Yes, sorry, didn't mean to get caught up in the weeds.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Through power, I gain victory.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

through victory, I gain power

by Embarrassed_Pitch 1 week ago

I've never had a bad experience with a giant corporation and had only bad experiences with small or medium-sized businesses.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I've worked for corporations and I've worked for mom and pop shops. The mom and pop shops always treated me the worst and not a single one of them had any sort of benefits.

by Zestyclose-Climate 1 week ago

Same in the US. Small businesses usually only give the bare minimum. What is legally required. There are some that do more and are great to work for, but I'd bet they're in the minority.

by Elinoreondricka 1 week ago

As someone whose first job was one of those small pizza restaurants (not like the corporate chains like Papa John's like those small generic restaurants) and got groped, the boss doing that bend over and spell run joke, and called useless I can back this. Working for a huge, corporate place is a bit of a godsend

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Some large corporations under hire and push their employees. Some over hire and everyone has a relaxed time. Depends.

by Pborer 1 week ago

Yea, the former is just a lot more common at small companies.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Oh yeah. I am never working for a startup again.

by Pborer 1 week ago

That overused phrase alone is tired

by Jazlynlemke 1 week ago

A lot of big companies want to make their corporate employees comfortable so they don't think about the immoral things the company does to the people in society who are most vulnerable. 25+ years working for large corporations has taught me this.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Also regulations and labor rights, mostly won by unions.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

If your manager is good your life is good, if your manager stinks your life sucks. Same thing whether the company is big or small.

by connrupert 1 week ago

I think it's definitely a "your milage may vary" situation highly dependent on the job and/ or the company / industry

by Hilpertariel 1 week ago

It depends wildly on your job title. I work for a billion dollar worldwide automotive manufacturer. The guys in the front office are doing great; the guys on the floor hate their lives. I'm somewhere in between.

by Parisharber 1 week ago

You do better than most people in the US, consider yourself lucky. You work for a company that not only pays you well but also invests in your retirement. Personally I have had bad experiences at small companies, because they expect you to take a loss in some ways. They just work you to death. It's ok to not be "passionate" about your job, you are earning an honest living. Personally, idk if I'd even want to "do something I love" for work because they it wouldn't be as enjoyable anymore.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Until those sweet sweet downsizing phases hit…

by gleichneralexys 1 week ago

Why would you pretend anything?

by ramonwilkinson 1 week ago

This is like Mr Beast saying bring a YouTuber is a great profession.

by Frances04 1 week ago

How many hours a day do you work in the days you do work? Just wondering

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I work 12's. 2 on, 2 off, 5 on, 5 off. Any time outside my scheduled hours (pick-ups, training, outage time) is time-and-a-half.

by SilverCandle 1 week ago

Oh wow

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Rock on brother. Wish I had that kinda schedule but in a very similar boat. Folks always said I was a fool for not going to college but you can definitely self teach and with good opportunities get great positions.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Damn how do you even get started in something like that fr

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Mid size is awesome. Too unknown so all the tryhsrds aren't applying

by Primary_Albatross446 1 week ago

What is considered midsize? I think mine acts like a small company but is growing into a mid size. Good and bad with that.

by Elinoreondricka 1 week ago

So... you have a good job? Why would you have to pretend otherwise?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Its great until some dudes that you have never met in corporate office across the country are the ones that determine your raises and not your manager

by Oswaldconn 1 week ago

It all really depends on the Company. Do your research and try and get a general feel of its history. I agree that the stereotype of every small business being angels while every big corporation being evil gets tiring.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I remember doing some volunteer works with an EA employee, she told me, 'yeah, the company gets a bad rep, but the facilities and works are solid, it sucks to be their consumers, but working for them is pretty nice most of the time'

by Over-Detail9492 1 week ago

My man let me know where to apply 👀

by Anonymous 1 week ago

You could also get laid off without a minute's notice. One day receive a videocall, and boom, you're fired. Usually severance isn't too bad in bigger corporations, but you could just get all your plans messed up in one second. It's certainly no better in small companies, were they treat you like dirt until you voluntarily quit, or force you to write a resignation letter before you're even hired. But let's not pretend like working for a big company gives you that much security.

by LeadingLog8960 1 week ago

it all depends on whether or not you're ok with how big companies conduct business, what they do to the environment, how they destroy small communities and mom & pop shops, etc. If you're a "as long as I get mine" kind of person, I suppose you wouldn't care.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Of course you're happy. You make a lot of money and have good benefits. No mystery there, really.

by Head-Attempt 1 week ago

Wait till u reach close to the c suits .. enjoy till their eye doesn't fall on you.

by EventPopular8598 1 week ago

Also structure. People bitch about red tape etc but one thing corporations do is follow employment laws etc. the smaller guys in my experience are more likely to side step that stuff.

by Leonel13 1 week ago

All depends on your position. I worked retail at a big corporation it was terrible. I now work for Medicare and it's 10000% better

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Large, private profitable companies is the way to go tbh. Hard work can go discovered much easier and you can get compensated very well if you're in the right one.

by Affectionate-Ice8149 1 week ago

I worked for a small company that got sold to a big company and literally everything got worse lol.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

what can really suck about small businesses is there's no routine. in big corps they usually have a concrete payment schedule and stuff like that. i've worked for small businesses where they'd just forget to pay me for weeks and id have to remind them, and they'd forget how many hours i worked so id have to tell them

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Wait 'til they screw you. If they don't, you're supremely lucky. Corporations are hated because they only care about making the numbers go up

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Everyone acts like small businesses are so virtuous but I've never been treated worse than working for small family-owned businesses with little or no HR departments. Place I work for now, the owner is a bully, and he's HR so hope you never have a problem. All I want is to be an anonymous faceless corporate drone again, do the bare minimum and collect my check. I'm so so tired of being "all-in" and "we're a family"

by Marcrohan 1 week ago

From my personal experience, smaller companies try to ride you to death. The sky is always falling, and overtime is expected but not paid most of the time. Big companies often have a relaxed environment, sometimes to the point where entire departments don't do much, and nobody cares.

by According_Crab6627 1 week ago

Meh, it really depends on your role, goals, and overall situation. I've worked at early-stage start ups, small/medium businesses, and am currently with a Fortune 20 company. They all have pros and cons. I enjoyed the work most at the start ups but securing funding is stressful. The SMBs were generally more stable but I had to put in more hours. The big company (100K employees) provides the most stability and gives me a better work/life balance, but I often feel like just another cog. At this point in my life, being a cog suits me just fine.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's not the company that u need to be worried about, it's your direct superior that will decide your fate in the company.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's excellent. Generous 401K match, six figures since I was 24, pension, excellent insurance, volunteer opportunities through the company, donation matching from the company, getting my masters on the company dime, and a low-stress position where I typically only work 32 hours.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I've always told friends, bigger companies = bigger benefits and most importantly you can "hide" easier.

by ufeest 1 week ago

Absolutely agreed

by Sad-Dentist9110 1 week ago

Sign me up man

by Fun-Abalone 1 week ago

Sounds like you got a good gig, but the happiest I've been at work was when I wasn't a slave to metrics, was able to make independent decisions, despite volatility in the job. I was an independent contributor, over a distinct cog, disconnected entirely from my manager's manager.

by AcadiaEmotional4758 1 week ago

I work in Health Informatics, and my worst mistake was staying with my small company for as long as I did. I learned a lot and I basically had 100% control over how I did my job but they just didn't pay. When I left in 18 I was making 65k. I made 190 last year with the fortune 500

by brandischmeler 1 week ago

It's crazy to me that plant operators don't require college in much of the US. In Canada it's a very regulated profession.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I've be never met a small business owner who wasn't a sociopathic scumbag. Love being a faceless number in a big corp now !

by Anonymous 1 week ago

DuPont schedule at a steam or combined cycle plant? That's pretty solid PTO accrual. Good for you!

by zstokes 1 week ago

100k in a lcol area will have you living like a king just don't let the lifestyle creep happen and make sure you're maxing out roth and 401k

by elliotrodriguez 1 week ago

I remember being 25 and thinking this. 20 years later…kill me

by Select_Context 1 week ago

You found a unicorn, few people can be on your path, be humble about how well you have it

by Anonymous 1 week ago

This is not true in the service industry.

by ludwigschaden 1 week ago

Why pretend? Just say what you feel

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Yes working for big companies is great but that's because they don't screw over their employees. Almost everything shady big companies do they do at the highest level ie avoiding taxes, controlling politicians, and the like.

by Estellgrant 1 week ago

Why were you pretending that it wasn't great?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

This is not an unpopular opinion,.

by Emmanueltrantow 1 week ago

The people you see whining online about "corporations maaaaan" are usually poor brokies that would never even be in the candidate pool for such jobs in the first place (not cause they don't want to, cause they're unqualified). Same kind of people that online whine about "landlords". As if they had an opportunity/ the means to purchase a valuable piece of appreciating asset, and someone else pays it down at the same time as your profit grows. Like shame on them for making smart investments.

by Friendly_Abroad_6516 1 week ago

In my experience, it's more about the job, not the company itself

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I think a lot of it is about your direct boss.

by Elinoreondricka 1 week ago

Buddy, what's actually unpopular at least in the adult world, is putting the weight of a corporation on some random employee lmfao. you have done nothing wrong, you should enjoy the fruit of your labor, and very few people would actually fault you for that

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Most people prefer not be wage slaves beholden to others. However, they express this sentiment while also working in big corporations.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

You think „earning a lot of money is nice" is an unpopular opinion?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

You ok? Need a hug?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

No just a weird ass humble brag

by Anonymous 1 week ago

What company?

by vestadonnelly 1 week ago

I'd prefer not to doxx myself lmao

by SilverCandle 1 week ago

To each their own. But I ask, would you rather feel like a page number in a story? Or would you wanna feel like you're actually part of the story?

by FunTangelo7274 1 week ago

I've found the benefits and compensation get better the bigger the corporation is. Alright now go work for Amazon or Wal-Mart

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Not all big corporations are evil. And this is someone whon hates corporruption.

by dschowalter 1 week ago

Just wait until you find out about "at will employment".

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Is this an opinion or just your experience?

by Anonymous 1 week ago

It's an opinion. With a combination of the right skills, location, timing, and luck, big corporations have so much more to offer than small operations.

by SilverCandle 1 week ago

that's nice for you but you're in the minority there

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Good money and benefits only go so far with a job that you do not find fulfillment in

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I've decided to find fulfillment in my life outside of work. I have a side gig that I have a passion for in my off time, when I'm not spending the time with my family.

by SilverCandle 1 week ago

I do the same. Enjoy the security and freedom that most loath

by Anonymous 1 week ago

True, but then fulfilment only goes so far with a job you get no money or benefits from.

by Spinkabrady 1 week ago

The real unpopular opinion I'll take money over fulfillment in this economy please

by Anonymous 1 week ago

Sure, but it can absolutely enable one to find fulfillment elsewhere.

by Mundane_Poem 1 week ago

Probably because you don't have a real job I'm surprised they hired you without a degree though , I'm guessing you sold your soul for oil?

by Life-Pollution 1 week ago

He probably has a particular skill or experience that's in demand. Get over it.

by Comfortable_Tie7594 1 week ago

It's not OP's fault that you feel that you're too good to get your hands dirty. This is why plumbers and electricians are expensive...because no one wants to train to become one.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

As a tradesman myself, I would add that unions help a lot in this equation. It's true some of these fields are chronically understaffed, but don't discount the role unions play in helping to keep wages up. This also has a ripple effect to guys that do the same jobs but aren't in the unions, it keeps wages up industry wide, the owner of a non union company has to be competitive to keep his employees.

by Anonymous 1 week ago

I can fix my own plumbing and electricity without paying someone

by Life-Pollution 1 week ago

I am a teacher

by Life-Pollution 1 week ago

It's most definitely a real job. Without my job (and those of my peers), you'd be sitting in the Stone Age. They value applicable real-world field experience and certifications (welding, rigging, turbine repair) over just studying the theory. You can learn how big machines work on paper, but you won't learn how to troubleshoot and repair them until you're walking down the systems and turning wrenches. And no, I don't work in oil. I work in power generation. We use natural gas with emergency fuel oil backup so that we can help to restart the power grid in the event of a total blackout/ similar national emergency. A huge part of my job is environmental compliance. We monitor and control our emissions (to a standard that's actually far stricter than what the federal government calls for), we test and treat any and all water (storm water runoff or otherwise) to ensure that it's free of contaminants and within established parameters of pH, hardness, chlorine, hydrocarbons, etc., and we actively pursue waste prevention measures and recycling of any and all materials and fluids on site.

by SilverCandle 1 week ago

Are the people who supply your company with parts so well compensated? Are the ones who mine the cobalt for the computers? There's always a lower rung.

by iwyman 1 week ago

oh yeah, enjoying things like morning coffee and eating higher quality nutrition food are really selfish behaviors. BTW - paying for high quality food now helps prevent alot of illnesses in old age. Just another example of how much it cost to be poor. But sure, snub your nose at ppl because they just "dont want to work hard."

by Holden89 1 week ago

I think you underestimate kind of edge, intellectual or otherwise, that you need to escape those kind of situations. Sounds like perhaps we had similar experiences through childhood. I took on more debt but I am using the Public Service forgiveness to get out of it. I agree its not inescapable but not for like your average man. The real point is by paying workers higher wages solves all these problems at the expense of very few people.

by Holden89 1 week ago