I'm hoping passive aggressiveness and lack of communication is not typical of high-tech or R&D. I have no trouble believing it is common and maybe even typical

I'm hoping passive aggressiveness and lack of communication is not typical of high-tech or R&D. I have no trouble believing it is common and maybe even typical of BIG companies, even if you're not in the R&D department. I have worked for large high tech corporations and while there were death-marches at least there wasn't a crippling lack of communication and passive aggression. Sadly I am currently experiencing both of the latter at another Big Co's R&D department. But I have found startups and small businesses to be refreshingly full of passion and free of BS. This is why my thoughts revolve around working either for myself or at least partly for myself as a share holder in a startup.