Why Are People Attracted to Large Corporations? A Personal Experience

As someone who recently transitioned from a small, close-knit company to a Fortune 500 giant, I’ve been left pondering a perplexing question: What draws individuals to the allure of large organizations and corporate positions? My experience was nothing short of eye-opening and, quite frankly, disheartening.

For the better part of my career, I was employed at a modest company with around 200 employees. The organizational structure was refreshingly straightforward. It consisted of just three levels: CEO, manager, and junior staff. In this environment, managers took an active role in guiding their teams, fostering a sense of collaboration and support that I valued deeply.

Upon making the leap to a major corporation, I anticipated growth and new opportunities. Instead, I encountered what I can only describe as a toxic workplace culture. A troubling pattern emerged, characterized by managers who engaged in communication that often resembled a game of telephone, team members undermining each other’s efforts, and an overall atmosphere thick with negativity. It stood in stark contrast to my core values, leading me to make the difficult decision to leave and consider founding my own business.

Throughout nearly a decade of my career, I operated under the belief that success in the workplace hinges on performance, collaboration, and a shared commitment to the company’s goals. My aim was always to contribute positively—to uplift the team and drive the organization forward. Yet, in this new corporate environment, I found myself surrounded by individuals more focused on politicking, gossip, and withholding vital information than on achieving collective success. Rarely did my time feel devoted to honestly improving company performance or supporting my colleagues.

In browsing through discussions on platforms like Reddit, it became clear that my experiences resonated with many others. This led me to wonder: Why do so many people choose to immerse themselves in such a culture? Do they truly enjoy it, or have they simply settled into accepting this as the norm?

This contemplation opened my eyes to the possibility that my expectations may have been misplaced. Is there really a rationale behind why these counterproductive behaviors seem so prevalent? Can anyone shed light on why such negativity persists and even flourishes in corporate environments?

I cannot help but feel like I have stumbled into an alternate reality. While I recognize my relative inexperience in the corporate landscape, it is disheartening to think that this might be the standard way of operation. With so much focus on unhealthy dynamics, one has to wonder