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I really hate how a lot of people treat a manager as a "mini-boss".

A manager should really just be another role on the team, with the possibility of firing a team member being a decision for the team, not a single managerial role.

Everyone should get a vote in who stays, otherwise you just end up with a bunch of sociopaths running the show.

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I've never worked at a company where your manager was not also your "boss." You do what your manager tells you to do, make them look good, defer to them when necessary, because they utterly control whether you continue to work there or not. I'd love to learn about a company where this is not true. Not doubting it, but genuinely curious because it is counter to all of my 25 years of career experience.

Valve? From insider reports, there are power structures, they are just not officially recognized by HR.

I work in a country with strict laws around firing and while I suspect our laws are generally too strict, this is one of the big upsides in my view. It just makes for a healthier dynamic. People feel (reasonably) free to speak their mind, disagree, or stand up for themselves. Management is based more on merits and consensus than power and hierarchy.

Disclaimer: I've never worked in the US. The difference is probably not as pronounced as I imagine it to be!

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