lobsters score: 1 · tags: ai
A lot of advice floating around is ZIRP-era advice: either it was written during that era, or it’s written by engineers whose habits of thought were formed during that era. This kind of advice typically tells you to take a stand (e.g. to unionize), to speak up more against “unethical technologies” like AI, and to insist on being given time to practice your craft the way you want. This was great advice in 2016, but it’s not good advice in 2026.
So, the advice is to keep your head down, toe the company line, don’t join a union, don’t take any moral stances, don’t speak up, don’t make trouble? Basically, behave like you’re worthless and easily replaced? I think that is exactly how you lose power in the workplace and devalue yourself as an employee. I’m not saying it’s good advice to be a firebrand or a troublemaker, but have a little self-respect and self-worth and know that you do have leverage to negotiate for a better workplace (just don’t overplay your hand or be an asshole) and you do have a moral obligation to behave ethically in your work, regardless of the job market.
score 3 · canonical
edit: this post got a handful of comments on lobste.rs and Hacker News. Commenters disagree with my first point, arguing that keeping your head down means you lose power. I certainly agree that you shouldn’t behave like you’re worthless or easily replaced. But in my view most power in tech companies comes from being useful, not from being willing to unionize or pick political fights.
Author ended up replying to this indirectly here, which, considering the gender disparity in IT, which I imagine is not getting better, I’m not entirely sure if I buy that you get political power through usefulness.
(Ironically I feel like that’s the same ZIRP meritocratic argument we’ve heard to defend that gender disparity, and that’s when money was good and engineers were valued)
Often (but of course not always) you’re powerful because you won the cosmic dice (in more ways than one).
score 2 · canonical
At most companies, publicly campaigning to start a union is a great way to attract unofficial retaliation
I went to a great talk at CodeMash 2026 about how to successfully form a tech union, and rule #1 was don’t make your union campaign public, for this exact reason.
Unions can go a long way in addressing the AI-flavored anhedonia and uncertainty that tech workers are facing. We should be telling junior devs “unionize smarter” rather than “don’t unionize.”
score 1 · canonical
The notion that software engineers are better off not attempting to unionize is, ironically, very likely ZIRP-era thinking.
score 1 · canonical