Silicon Valley Burnout: Perks Are Out, Pressure Is In
From Pool Tables to Pink Slips
The tech industry’s once-glamorous image is quickly fading as mass layoffs, demanding schedules, and vanishing perks become the new normal. Once-symbolic office luxuries like in-house baristas and yoga classes are disappearing across major firms. Companies like Google, Amazon, and Meta—once poster children for tech utopia—have trimmed staff and benefits amidst an unforgiving economic reality. Behind the scenes, employees describe rising stress levels, longer hours, and the creeping sense that stability is no longer promised.
A Tech Job, But at What Cost?
Beyond job insecurity, tech workers now face a harsher grind, as remote flexibility shrinks and workloads intensify. The fear of AI replacing roles is adding fuel to the fire, pushing engineers and designers to overperform in a bid for relevance. With stock-based compensation devalued and retention bonuses dwindling, fewer workers feel rewarded for the extra effort. Morale is increasingly low, leaving many to question whether the hustle is still worth it in today’s climate.
The Future Isn’t Quite as Bright
While tech giants continue investing in artificial intelligence and automation, they do so at the cost of human capital. Layoffs come even as profits soar, revealing a shift from ambition to efficiency. The once-aspirational culture of innovation has given way to a more corporate, cutthroat environment. As Big Tech resets expectations, the next generation of workers might be forced to rethink what success in Silicon Valley really looks like.
