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The Face of Corporate Betrayal
Lately I’ve had this concept on my mind — betrayal, specifically the kind you encounter in a work environment. It’s one of those taboo things that we don’t even identify as existing, but feels rampant. I’ve experienced it (enough to completely opt out of traditional salaried work) and I’ve heard from many friends, colleagues, and acquaintances over the years stories that sound an awful lot like betrayal.
First, why don’t we talk about betrayal at work? Well if you’re living in America then you’ve been brainwashed into believing that your livelihood and worth are entangled with your job (or if you aren’t yet jaded, your “career”). And there is a lot of deep truth there — no job and you don’t have access to health care, no job and there’s no steady income stream coming in to your bank account, no job and there’s no easy way to accomplish tasks and feel productive, no job and there’s no security.
Next, what exactly do I mean by corporate betrayal? Well let’s start with what betrayal is. Betrayal in its simplest form is breaking someone’s trust (and I would argue knowingly). In our personal relationships it could mean sharing a secret that wasn’t yours to share, it could mean concealing a truth from someone who loves you (a truth that could cause detriment to the other person), or it could be as simple as rejection. More than the words, we all know what betrayal feels…
