The Corporate Conundrum: Why Are People Attracted to Large Organizations?

As I reflect on my professional journey, I can’t help but wonder: what compels so many individuals to gravitate toward large organizations and corporate roles? Having personally encountered a rather disheartening experience in this realm, I’m left questioning the allure of such environments.

My career began at a small company with a tight-knit team of around 200 employees, operating within a remarkably flat structure. The hierarchy was clearly defined: CEO, manager, and junior staff—three main layers where senior employees still maintained close ties with their bosses. This setup fostered collaboration and a strong sense of community.

However, my recent transition to a Fortune 500 company was far from pleasing. It quickly devolved into a distressing experience and, according to numerous posts I’ve come across online, my sentiments appear to be all too common. I observed a toxic culture where managers engaged in the dreaded “telephone game,” colleagues undermined each other’s performance, and negativity permeated the workplace. Such an environment clashed with my personal values, prompting me to leave and explore the prospect of starting my own business.

For the better part of a decade, I operated under the belief that the workplace should be a space for contribution and camaraderie: show up, perform well, support your team, and drive value for the organization. Yet, stepping into what I thought would be a broader platform for growth, I encountered a starkly different reality. Gossip, manipulation, and information hoarding seemed to reign supreme, diverting focus away from the essential goal of generating success and uplifting colleagues.

Much to my surprise, this troubling narrative is echoed by many others on platforms like Reddit. So, this begs the question: why are so many individuals drawn to this kind of working life?

Am I alone in feeling like I’ve stumbled into an alternate universe? Do countless professionals wake up each day, satisfied with the idea of spending 20-30 years in such an environment? How can individuals of good conscience engage in practices that appear detrimental to both productivity and morale?

The corporate landscape often feels counterintuitive, leading me to ponder whether this seemingly dysfunctional approach holds any merit. Is there an underlying rationale that explains why toxic behaviors persist in these settings? Surely, if there weren’t some perceived advantages to these practices, individuals wouldn’t continue to perpetuate them.

I seek closure and clarity on this perplexing issue. Throughout my corporate tenure, I sensed