>Both are red flags No they're not; they describe 98% (made up number) of the industry, and I don't think that "soul-suckingly bureaucracy" is an inevitable ou

>Both are red flags No they're not; they describe 98% (made up number) of the industry, and I don't think that "soul-suckingly bureaucracy" is an inevitable outcome of implementing reasonable processes. We have IP that we have to protect. We have a company to protect (hence the HR involvement). Sure, you may be lucky enough to wing it in your little five man operation and get by, but you had better hope you don't run into a problem employee if you're not covering your ass. The sort of company you describe can be a ton of fun to work at, but you're also probably failing in a ton of areas and you don't even realize it yet. It's a mistake to think that your hipster SV perspective is the way that the world should work.