I have a running list of every company and job I’ve worked over the years.
Currently, that list sits at 23 companies, 27 different jobs, nine side gigs—including two podcasts—authoring a book, running a nonprofit, and a (very) small media company.
Every now and then I look over that list and chuckle at the wide range of experiences I’ve had.
Recently, though, I’ve been thinking about how organizations are run and what all those experiences have in common.
I came to a sobering conclusion:
Nearly every company I’ve worked for has suffered from the same disease—a marked lack of professionalism and accountability at the highest levels.
Unprofessionalism Exposed
From fast food to factories... from data entry to newspaper delivery... I’ve seen every flavor of unprofessionalism imaginable.
I’m using the word “unprofessionalism” in an effort to remain professional myself.
The truth is...
These people are assholes.
Oops.
Was that too much?
Maybe.
But they’re among the worst people in society, and they make being Uncredible almost unbearable at times.
It’s the manager who calls you in early to cover the lunch rush, only to send you home thirty minutes later when business slows.
It’s the manager who forgets to give you your legally required break, then makes you stay an extra thirty minutes so they don’t get caught violating labor laws.
It’s the supervisor who stalks you over missing safety glasses while ignoring machines operating without proper guarding.
It’s the hiring manager who lies about the job during the interview—or worse, waits until after you’ve accepted the position to tell you everything has changed.
It’s the front office that acts secretive—or conveniently clueless—about retirement, medical leave, layoffs, vacation time, and pay until it’s too late.
It’s the team leader who tells you taking a day off won’t affect your employment... only to call later and tell you your job has been terminated.
It’s the company that insists business is doing fine... then lays off every temporary employee the following week.
It’s the HR representative who assures you transferring plants is seamless... only for the new plant to have no idea you’re coming.
It’s the management team dangling pizza, wings, T-shirts, and novelty prizes while the company makes money hand over fist.
It’s the leadership team holding secret meetings to eliminate departments while publicly insisting nothing is wrong.
That’s a lot of examples.
What’s worse is that none of them are hypothetical.
Every single one is something I’ve personally witnessed while working as an “Uncredible” guy watching leaders mistreat the very people they believe are beneath them.
Nobody Says Anything—They Get Away With It
You might wonder why nobody stands up to these people.
Why do ordinary workers tolerate behavior like this?
There are several reasons, and they’re all natural human responses.
First, people need their jobs.
They can’t afford to stir the pot because their paycheck is tied directly to the people abusing their authority.
If mortgages, groceries, and children weren’t involved, many of these leaders wouldn’t survive five minutes in the real world.
Instead, they survive because everyone around them is financially trapped.
Second, for every terrible leader, there are half a dozen ambitious employees waiting for the promotion.
They build relationships.
They play politics.
They quietly position themselves to inherit those leadership roles.
To them, the person standing up for what’s right isn’t courageous.
They’re simply another rung on the ladder.
Third, most people simply don’t want to rock the boat.
Very few people possess a strong sense of justice.
Even fewer are willing to defend someone else’s.
A company may be treating five employees terribly, but if everyone else is unaffected, it barely registers.
Then, when those five employees finally speak up, they’re labeled complainers.
Whiners.
Problem employees.
After all, injustice always looks smaller when it’s happening to someone else.
The worst leaders understand this perfectly.
That’s why performance reviews happen behind closed doors.
That’s why HR discourages employees from discussing investigations—or even wages.
If people started comparing notes, the hypocrisy would become impossible to hide.
Conclusion — What’s the Solution?
After working all of these jobs and accumulating all of these experiences, I’m still not convinced I’ve found the solution.
There will always be people willing to exploit others.
Those people will always find ways to weasel themselves into positions of authority over hardworking, decent people.
The best I can do is expose it when I see it...
...and refuse to become one of them.
The only way that happens is by remaining committed to your values, no matter the cost.
No amount of money, power, or prestige is worth becoming the kind of person who treats other human beings as disposable.
When we place people and professionalism above profit and power...
We become Uncredible.
Readings Intro℗ generated using Suno by Jeremy Lundmark on June 22, 2026