STRUCK BY: The Creeping Comeback of Hustle Culture


In a tidy follow up to the most recent STRUCK BY newsletter, there’s a widening gap between how employers and employees view hustle culture.

Last week saw an email from the CEO of AT&T where he said what most execs have been tiptoeing around: “If a self-directed, virtual, or hybrid work schedule is essential for you to manage your career aspirations and life challenges, you will have a difficult time aligning your priorities with those of the company and the culture we aim to establish.” I don’t know about you, but it was the “self-directed” part that gave me the chills.

As I wrote last week, work-life balance is now the top driver of employee retention for the first time in twenty-two years. That’s incredibly incompatible with the ethos of hustle culture and forced in-office work schedules. Employers in some industries (like media or CPG) who aren’t facing a talent shortage will probably be able to set the tone. Employers in other industries (like Tech - especially AI) who are competing for top talent will likely have some tradeoffs to make.

Emily Lerner, skillstruck studio

⚡️Leadership Coach + Professional Truth Teller 👩🏻‍💻 Recovering tech exec 🔥 People Strategist 📍Silicon Valley skillstruckstudio.com

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