#toxicleadership

For anyone who hasn’t seen “The Truman Show”: it’s a story about a man who lives inside a perfect illusion. His entire life is a TV set. The town, the neighbors, even his wife and coworkers… all actors. They know it’s fake. They get paid to keep the illusion running so Truman never realizes the truth.

The employees in Truman’s world were enablers.

They smiled on cue, stuck to the script, and did whatever it took to keep the show believable. Not because they believed in it, but because it was their job. Because it paid the bills.

Sound familiar?

For years, that’s what we, Xerox employees, have done here.

We’ve watched the numbers collapse, the debt balloon, the rhetoric pile up… and we’ve kept performing.

We’ve called decline “transformation,” losses “investments,” and chaos “reinvention”.

We’ve applauded speeches that we knew were hollow, because the alternative was uncomfortable truth.

We weren’t fooled. We were complicit.

Now the walls of the set are falling down.

Let’s stop pretending we didn’t know. We all knew.

We saw the numbers slide quarter after quarter.

We sat through the town halls, clapped like it mattered, then went back to our desks to whisper the obvious: this company’s been dead for years; we’re just managing the c0rpse.

Why?

Because the salary was decent.

Because it was easier to play d-mb than to stand up and say the emperor had no clothes.

Because survival inside a dying machine feels safer than the uncertainty outside it.

Every spreadsheet, every “adjusted” margin, every fake pep talk… we saw it all.

And instead of calling it out, we became the extras in the show.

We smiled, nodded, and sold the illusion that Xerox was turning a corner.

But the truth is brutal: we helped build the illusion.

We traded everything for comfort, and comfort is what leads companies to de4th.

We knew the business model was obsolete, that “Reinvention” was just branding without any substance.

We heard the excuses: tariffs, macroeconomy, delayed orders, COVID (in 2025?)… and pretended those were answers.

Now the curtain’s down.

No plot twist, no surprise ending… just the arithmetic of brutal financials that don’t lie.

The problem isn’t that management lied: the real problem is that we let them.

We built a culture where truth was optional and optimism mandatory.

We rewarded obedience over thinking.

Every time we clapped at jargon, every time we stayed silent while the company hollowed out, we helped build the lie.

Now there’s nothing left to hide behind.

The show’s over.

Stop clapping.

Leadership was couped by "the West". Legacy BMO employees are treated like garbage by the actively hostile management from "the West" and never considered for advancement.

The management that ran botw into the ground is tearing down all the guardrails that made BMO a stable bank. They constantly lie and gaslight.

Now they're laying off a bunch of people off right before the holiday season. This company has been corrupted by the toxic culture from the West.

Optum wants so desperately to be a leader in consumer health, but is COMPLETELY out of touch with consumers. The consumer executives: Rita Kahn, Katie Schumacher, Robbi (ROBERTA) Thatcher have NO idea how to run a best-in-class product org. From process, to roles, to strategy, to roadmaps, etc. It’s a performative executive DEI club. Also recently added: Benson Chan, a waxy-looking self-indulgent Canadian who is a a big phoney and previously fired from Amazon Alexa. These people don’t lead, are not motivating and aren’t close to the work at all. They just repeat the same talking points at town halls. In 2026 they are injecting $55M of new capital into…. wait for it.., a chatbot called “Optum Companion” that doesn’t actually do anything better than before. Do consumers want this? No! But they will stick it everywhere. It’s more tech determinism cr-p being shoveled at consumers, also led by other executive a--hats like Sandeep Dadlani and Julie Durham who are constantly cheerleading on LinkedIn about AI and “100x” to boost their own personal brands/egos. As for the employee experience and culture, it has become a toxic culture of fear and loathing. Constant rounds of layoffs, and ever increasing return-to-office mandates that can be expected to continue until everyone works in MN or India. The market also agrees, and the stock price has lost practically all gains over the last 5 years. “Healthy Optum-ism” is a hilarious new attempt to revive a failing brand, but is so cringe, it’s unbearable. If you survived this latest round of layoffs (read: firing squad), then I wish you luck, but honestly, do you want to work at a soul-su-king place where you’re always looking over your shoulder wondering if your number will be called next. F this place. Let it burn to the ground.

RVP’S and GvPs are told to churn and burn all store managers and associates

Push as many people out as possible (managers included) get em out, get em in at a lower pay rate

They now want frequent turnover to keep costs down, always hiring at a lower pay rate

The quality of the person they hire does not matter as long as they are low cost

Some people won’t quit, so they increase workload, micromanaging, favoritism, ect….you see this at belk time and time again

It will only get worse

Get out if you can is my only advice

My manager has this way of talking that makes you question your own work constantly. He acts like we are lucky to even get a paycheck here. I see my teammates come in every morning looking completely defeated. It is really hard to watch good people get treated this way. I wish I could quit.

Section Manager here. I hate this place, cried twice today and I never cry, ever. I know a lot of people make different posts on here and much of it is pure cr-p. Please take this post to heart and make your own decisions. They are realigning leadership at all levels and looking for any excuse to fire people. This includes SMs, TMs, CSs, Underwriters, CA, USAs. They just changed the accountability cycle to the performance cycle. I'm being asked my CM/VP and Executive leadership weekly, that I basically need to find people to fire. They are basically saying make it up or dig until you can find something. They are hiding behind people not providing "World Class" leadership or service. It borderlines on illegal behavior. I can't stomach it anymore and trying my best to protect who I can, when I can, but any attempts put a huge target on my back. Everyone please and I mean please please watch yourself. These people are self-deluded sociopaths running this company and it is only going to get worse. I'm going to find a way out of here. I cannot live in this kind of environment, work for these type of people or be a part of it any longer. Get out. I know how hard it is especially when you have a family and obligations but go out on your turns. This purely evil place is not worth it. God bless everyone, just want you to know the deck you are playing with. This truly is an evil place, it does not stand for the right things anymore and your soul is not worth it.

This is going to explode at some point, the level of exclusion in this company is just unbearable, I had to say it, there's just so much toxicity I just hope this message reaches someone thinking of joining this company.. be careful

Left several years ago when my immediate supervisor told me he had no clue what it team did. Get out while you still can

Fu-k this I’m taking a demotion somewhere else. Worst leadership in my 20 year career

Beneath the glossy aesthetics of Minneapolis HQ lay an unspoken code: all loyalty was transient; promotions a promise easily retracted. Only the strongest, most adaptable team members remained, standing in solemn salute at the corporate bullseye.

F**K Me. I'm not asking AI anymore questions.

Things have been going downhill fast since Aimee left — and it’s obvious. The new leadership team, all the way up to the VP level, has completely changed the culture. People are getting singled out, spoken to disrespectfully, and treated like they don’t matter. Morale is the lowest it’s ever been, and good employees are leaving left and right.

You can feel the fear. Nobody wants to speak up because retaliation is real. Those who do are being pushed out or ignored. It’s all about favoritism now — certain people can do no wrong, while others get blamed for everything.

Performance has dropped, the environment is toxic, and the Pulse and TruScore results are going to tell the story. Anyone paying attention can see the writing on the wall — this org is falling apart under the current leadership.

We all know the bs as we see it daily and has been happening for years but I have never been so shocked as I am now. A few years ago I was smart and resigned to go back to school. Except now the industry I went back to school for is suffering so I was hard up for work... I was able to get my job back via a contract company with hopes i would get hired on perm by wf or find a better job before the contract was up..... I came in everyday with a good attitude, i volunteered to read when no one else would, i was back to my desk before break was up, i didn't leave my desk to use the bathroom between breaks because the boss said they don't want to see people doing that and i left my phone an arms length away so I wouldn't violate the cell phone policy... Well I was fired 8 days into the contract because "it wasn't a good fit" or at least that was the reason they gave the contract company... Hmm so I did this exact job you hired me for 4 years and resigned on good terms but now it's not a good fit? Yet everyone in the training group is crocheting on live cam, have their heads down, are having inter office romances via text message (between sites and making drama over it), being blatantly rude to the trainer- but I am the problem? This supervisor just sc--wed me out of being able to get an other wf job because in my 15 years of working for the company and 20 years in working as a whole I have never once been fired but NOW I have to check that freaking box. Thanks bish. Thanks. now im stuck in a year lease i cant get out of after moving back to a small town to take this contract. my job options are now extremely limited and i am completely sc--wed. what a wonderful company to work for- glad i wasted my entire life for them. I am so sick to my stomach and heart broken, and completely alone here. If I didn't have my dog to look after I would walk out into a field and never come back.

State Farm is like a sad Disney movie remake. I would love to see South Park do a parody on State Farm. I love to hear JF talking about establishing our "World Class" culture. LOL! Maybe trailer trash, help your richest uncle take off the wheels on his new house culture. For anyone thinking about coming to work at SF do not even consider it. If you have State Farm insurance cancel all your policies, the company is a scam. If you are still working here get out ASAP. This place is Chernobyl, just a total toxic melt down that is getting worse every day. Sh-t hole!

Anyone who truly cares about their work and their job, anyone who has an inherent desire to show up and do the best they can, anyone who has the beloved “Protestant work ethic,” will end up in a mad house.

The way to win is to simply stop caring. Nod enthusiastically as your boss pretends to care about you. Smile to anyone above you. Offload as much work as you can to other departments you know are also overworked and undertrained and won’t do the job correctly. Stop caring about the people you support, the company, or even your own perspective of being a hard worker that does what is right. Put 20% effort in at all times. Enthusiastically go along with whatever new initiative is that you absolutely know will fail, in fact, be a cheerleader for it! Tell all your colleagues how great and amazing it is you will be rewarded.

Adopt the mask that you initially judged other people for. Outwardly be a yes man. Inwardly, stop giving a single shred of attention to your job beyond what it takes to not get fired. Going above and beyond will do nothing for your career.

Being absolutely mediocre but pretending to be a sycophant will get you promotions and awards. Caring means you might actually try and solve problems or bring attention to leadership about why things don’t work. They do not want that. Being worried about your own quality of work and the people you support means you might express your workload is untenable and you need help, they don’t want that. So remove the human element completely. You are a salesman, not just for clients, but for every person you work with. Promise them the moon and deliver a brick of concrete, and tell them how much work and pride you put into it. To get to where they are, they also know to play the game, and will nod and pat you on the back and tell you what a good boy you are. And maybe even give you an award for it!

Schwab cares about appearances over absolutely everything else. Through the clients eyes means: make sure the client doesn’t see all of the absolute tu-ds that you deliver to them. Dress it up prettily. Tell them the diminished service and products and attention they get is actually for their benefit. And do the same for every single person you work with and for.

Dell is just a foolish place. I just don't have the time for the politics and ridiclious decision making from our management team. I do what I need to do every day and ignore everything else. Our management has become totally mo--nic and everything is political so I just don't bother with it anymore. It's such an unethical company, I sincerely hope at some point the SEC come downs hard on them and they get sued.

If you are in management you are worthless and clearly management has changed considerably to a point where I just don't respect them anymore.

For now, it's just a job that will get me by so I can build my resume and then move on in a couple of year.

lets fire more american and european engineers and replace them with more indian engineers, middle managers and VPs

they will rescue f5 from crumbling

CP Chem is going down a dark path. Terrible elementary level intelligence from leadership.

Leadership acts like they can't be bothered and then if you point out any inconsistencies. It only matters if the right person points out something. They play favorites constantly.

Just have to share how a talented, skilled associate with a stated goal of promotion was passed over for someone with far less talent, skill set, respect among her peers etc.

Why - 2 reasons - She speaks her mind and doesn't blindly agree to every stupid idea and process ( not in line with core values as you may know). And her recent failure to meet ridiculous metrics - due to mentoring a new hire. Meeting metrics - the sole gold standard to MEET expectations

Just found out this site existed and had to get this off my chest - what a weak leader we are stuck with. Choose a lackey, anger the majority of the team, and prove to everyone how sickeningly toxic this place is. My notice is coming - I can't stand it anymore and neither can my peers.

I don’t know about Walmart but our Sam’s Club needs a whole new management team in JC Tennessee. Not one of them should be leading our club. No integrity nor any honesty to them

Feels more and more like LCS only exists for media optics. No good path to profitability with any of the venture projects.
Equally concerning is the toxic culture created within…screaming, shouting, and slamming doors in meetings is modeled by management especially he who exited to run the U/S. Why is this behavior rewarded?

Who is a bigger P O S MW or MN? For the fellow Brits out there, who's the bigger bell end?

Whatever veep or c-suite mo--n enabled this team should start looking for a new job.

Is anybody really surprised? Really?

After all we work for one of most notorious sociopathic narcissists on the planet.

You would think if you were getting a $20+ million dollar compensation package to eventually fire most of Discover, that you’d have the courage to do it in person. Classy move Dan.

Doesn’t seem like the culture at Capone would be worthwhile to stay around for anyways. A culture powered by PIPs and toxic management sounds like it a top place to avoid, not one you should be interested in working at.

In my opinion we are DOA…. Catastrophic results month after month… the new leaders took a company with a chance and a heartbeat only to ki-l it and pretend it’s alive and kicking. Anyone who was worth keeping have long since gone and more going. But hey… the ceo and his new team have found ways to pay themselves well so good for them.

I am so tired of the bully culture.

I’ve never worked for cheaper ba----ds. They’ll try anything to force us out so they don’t have to pay a dime. I’ve been through several companies, all packed with soulless management and cruel leadership using “creative” ways to get rid of people. But State Farm takes the cake - the harassment, abuse, and daily pressure here are on another level.

It happened today after thirteen years. I have just a few days left with my current login, any advice? This is the best scenario as there were many times where I didn't think I could stand working for the narcissistic, self absorbed man who micromanages the entire group as a director. He is widley disliked, thinks he is smarter than everyone else and loves to talk constantly.

I am not alone on the layoff stagecoach today. BOS is letting go of 50 today and apparently there is more.

Imagine coming to this site and whining that people are “complaining.” This is literally a place for layoff news, venting, and sharing grievances. What did you expect to find here, a cheerleading squad?

If the culture was positive, if leadership was trusted, if people felt secure in their jobs, there wouldn’t be anything to post. No one wastes time on a site like this when things are good. The fact that this forum is busy says everything: people are frustrated, burned out, and constantly under the threat of layoffs.

So yeah, people are going to “complain.” It’s not complaining for the sake of it, it’s employees calling out dysfunction, broken leadership, and a toxic culture. If you can’t handle that, maybe this isn’t the site for you.

Offer retirement packages!!!! Had enough abuse!

Unethical company lousy uneducated management.

You hate us we hate you. Horrendous company. Corrupt!

Can someone tell me how the he-l we keep going through re-org after re-org, yet somehow the absolute worst fu--ing leaders are the ones who survive every single time? It’s like the less you give a damn about the brand, the company, or your team, and the more you’re a selfish, toxic a--hole, the higher your chances of keeping your job. Actual competence? Doesn’t matter one bit.

We’ve got senior directors and VPs who should’ve been booted years ago, and everyone who works under them knows it. So what’s the deal? What’s the bullsh-t mechanism for deciding who stays and who goes at that level? And seriously, why the fu-k can’t we ever manage to promote the people who actually deserve it?

Highly suggest not to work for CDW. They used to sell technology to consumers, and now started selling services which they are not good at either. Not a consulting company but a part seller. Don't waste your career time working for or with CDW. This company only cares about meeting profits to keep their investors satisfied, and DO NOT care about their employees. Countless layoffs based on poor performance, and out dated technology acumen/leadership teams.

I’ve watched managers deliberately sideline top performers because their success made the managers nervous. Literally. They’d rather keep control and mediocrity than promote someone who might overshadow them. It’s toxic and it drives good people out, but nobody gives a damn.

Nothing to say that has not been posted here already. spoke with him on multiple occasions. this guy is a joke. lot of blatant lies on his linkedin profile too. not much of a career trajectory either. mid level PM to getting kicked out of adobe to being jobless for a couple years to landing this job. his connections in the board got him here. pity.

The culture of this place has become mean, spiteful and vindictive. RIFani is one of the worst.

So many posts about managers stealing credit.

But what no one talks about these days is why managers are ONLY giving opportunities to individuals who are in the same region as themselves to show off while pushing high performing associates into oblivion??

Is this some some toxic tactic to frustrate associates into quitting?

Please note that Visa’s protection for employee harassment is at VP/SVP levels and above only. So if you are a leader/harasser by habit as long as you join us as VP or above, you will protected by HR. HRBP and ER will have your back. You will be allowed violation of most rules in employee handbook and other new rules that they dish out that is applicable to all other employees. It gets even better. You will get to be part of enjoying in applying employee harassment. Now if you join below VP levels, it is the other way around, you will be the harassed, so if you like getting it, welcome onboard. If you are at any other leadership level and see someone harassed by VP/SVP levels, you know what to do, dive in and partner with the leader in the harassment, they will spare you and you will go up in ranks. We will have many different roles for you in the harassment. We will quickly recognize your values. We will see your potential as a harasser and how your VLPs are aligned. Some of the leaders will be disappointed in letting this little known Visa Leadership Principle known. It is easy to spot a leader who is a harasser, just need to watch who talks about ethics, Visa Leadership Principles the most in team meetings, townhalls and post on linkedin about leadership values. You will be surprised how many. You will love it!

Need to get out of toxic leadership. Been applying internally and externally. More external than internal. One internal did get picked up 2 months after I applied. 5 rounds of interviews for a lateral move in the same domain I've been working in (just a different system). TRadio silence for 1+ month now. Pinged recruiter - didn't reply. Job was reposted recently.
HM's been looking for someone for 3+ months. Not like has someone in mind already and is doing the compliance thing with 3 minimum interviews. Is the expectation that God will descend from the heavens and apply for the role? And why ghost your own employee? Why blame external firms when your own firm's recruiters and HM's treat you this way?