The Linus Tech Tips abuse allegations are yet another reminder that something absolutely needs to be done about the rampant sexism in the tech industry. If you haven’t heard them yet you can read about them here, but be warned, there is some potentially very triggering abuse and self harm detailed: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1691693740254228741.html
Madison’s story is not unique - we have heard stories like hers time and time again. As a tech professional it makes me sick to share an industry with these horrible people, and to know that little is being done to reign them in.
So, what can be done about this? I don’t have all of the answers, but one thing that comes to mind is that HR departments desperately need actual unbiased oversight, perhaps even from a governing body outside of the company. It has become common knowledge that HR’s primary purpose is to protect the company, and this prevents employees from speaking out and driving internal change even in terrible situations like Madison Reeve and countless others have faced. The way things are run clearly needs to fundamentally change
Let me know in the comments if you have any ideas on how we as a tech community might be able to address these issues, I am truly at a loss. All I want is for tech to be a safe space for everybody to find their passion and success, and it saddens me that we clearly aren’t there yet.
You realize those were tweets from a disgruntled ex employee, right?
They may be 100% accurate. But she decided to take advantage of the furor around LTT to have her position amplified. That’s pretty clever(she was the social media person afterall).
A couple things to keep in mind:no one else has corroborated these. why hasn’t anyone else come forward? There are other women at LTT and plenty of former employees–some who have been let go. But we haven’t heard anything else even remotely like this. Aside from the “we are moving too fast/this is a hustle” critiques.
She also alleges that LTT made her cut herself to get out of work. That’s absurd. Plenty of people work stressful jobs and don’t cut themselves. This indicates, to me, that she has quite a bit more going on emotionally/mentally than just basic work stress.
I don’t want to disparage or minimize her allegations, but this is exactly why an outside investigator is a good move. I just wish people wouldn’t automatically assume the worst of Linus and LTT because of some tweets.
From the things we do know from current employees is, it’s a fantastic place to work–aside from the pace which they have acknowledged and are addressing. Linus and Luke seem to be fairly reasonable and pro worker.
The channel super fun stuff also shows some insights into the environment and it doesn’t look like a toxic hellscape and I truly believe Linus and Yvonne are good people. … My guess is that there are nuggets of truth to some of the claims but that the serious ones are overstated or have been perceived by someone dealing with some issues.
I hope I’m not wrong, but I want get my pitchfork out until there’s hard evidence.