I work in a factory, and the potential to move up to shift lead is all but given to me by my peers. Ive had several bosses and colleagues (who's opinions and world views align with us) tell me I need to become the lead. The guy I would be inheriting this role from even says I'm the best fit.

However I ain't trying to be some class traitor. I do like the thing we produce, it's been a part of my life for my entire conscious existence. I'm a lucky sucker who followed their passion and while I'm a wage slave, seeing people, even if it is the upper class, deriving happiness from the things I make make me care about the things I produce. I do want to use this position to make the product and the workers lives better. Management already understands I side with labor more often than not.

I am really good at what I do and I have tons of issues believing in myself, but it's hard to ignore the world telling you you got to do this.

  • mittens [he/him]
    ·
    2 years ago

    It’s weird seeing the power dynamic flip in situations like that.

    Yeah, it's very unusual too. Glad you took advantage of it. I did have overwhelming leverage for a junior/mid-senior dev, but the CTO was no dummy and knew I was uppity, that's why they ended up making a parallel team to mine and recreated my entire work from scratch. It's still kinda baffling that they did that instead of just acquising. Would've been a lot cheaper too.