Reading through various workplace stories online today struck a particularly raw nerve. The tech industry can be a breeding ground for toxic workplace cultures, especially in the startup scene where the lines between professional relationships and personal friendships often blur dangerously.

The story that caught my attention involved a software professional who escaped a particularly toxic startup environment. Their experience resonated deeply with what I’ve witnessed throughout my two decades in tech. The familiar pattern of favouritism, where certain employees enjoy special privileges simply because they’re drinking buddies with management, is unfortunately all too common.