> Since the pandemic started, “the link between hard work and reward has been broken” for many workers, Buber said, resulting in “curbed ambition.” Over the co

> Since the pandemic started, “the link between hard work and reward has been broken” for many workers, Buber said, resulting in “curbed ambition.” Over the course of my 10+ year programming career, I've seen this effect steadily increase. Promotions seem to come or not come regardless of how hard you work. Looking back at older books about the tech industry (and comics such as dilbert), it seems like this effect isn't new, but could be something that ebbs and flows over time. > Productivity tends to move in cycles of 10 to 20 years See this is what I mean. Perhaps there's a megatrend going on here. Promotions go to those who don't deserve it, so companies self-destruct in their own incompetence, and a new crop of companies rise up, promoting those who are actually productive, and they reign supreme for 10-20 years, before they too become bloated and start promoting under-performers (who look good on paper). And the cycle repeats itself.