Good on you for quitting.
I would HIGHLY advise though, ensuring you have another job lined up before quitting. Lined up as in, you have the paperwork signed. It's common these days to go months without any work. I've been at it for a few years myself, and I'm a tech lead.
Google finds users are covering their ears and closing their eyes; releases nanobots to force eyes open and lock hands behind back.
I once worked as a direct support specialist to support people with mental illness in the community. A hard job because a lot of clients would test how "loyal" you are to them (spoiler alert: I'm gonna support you 'til the end!)
I was just starting out and learning the ropes from these 2 people that had been helping out clients for a while. Some of the things they were saying they did with clients didn't seem to add up (not anything too alarming, but situations where I thought the client would need support and the DSS decided not to assist). But I was still learning so I didn't press the matter or report them.
But then after about a month I found I was the only DSS left. Turns out the 2 people I was learning from were taking part in all sorts of horrible abuse with the clients. Stuff like turning on the car's AC and radio full blast because it's "their car" (the client had paranoid schizophrenia, PTSD, and major trust issues before this happened).
So if you ever have family or friends who are working with DSS's, go ahead and let them help, but be mindful of anything that sounds "off." Talk to the organization about it. The right DSS will be glad you investigated.
Thankfully, my supervisor hired on 2 new DSS's who were absolute legends and whom I was able to learn from.
I'm intrigued. I've been to enough business workshops that I don't think I need anymore (at this stage in my life at least), but I'd love to make connections. Would this be a good place for that? (I don't have Facebook)
Distract yourself from eating.
What I mean is: while I was making bank in tech I was on the road to getting married and establish myself as a tech expert, which means dating, networking, getting to know people (I'm an introvert, so it's rough). I'd spend time on a date with people and not necessarily starve myself, but food took a back seat to taking a walk, starting a chat, just getting to know people. As someone who has always battled his weight I was finally starting to look like I WANTED to look.
But then when I hit a financial snag (a string of bad clients/employers--would NOT recommend this career move) I was basically financially constrained to my house. No going out, not even to a coffee shop. Without the privilege of going out and finding friends/love/acceptance can you guess how I have to find comfort? You guessed it! Even though I stay active I've found it's very hard to keep weight down.
I only say this to make the point: if you can afford it, distract yourself from food.
I do all my photo editing on the command line.
~(kidding, of course)~
When I was well off I'd try to tip everyone who did even a half-decent job. Gas station attendants, grocery store workers, doesn't matter...unless they refused as part of their work rules (some are like that) I would try to tip them.
Why do you think they do this?
With inflation happening across the economy, businesses have been dealing with rising costs for years. At the same time, there's a lot of pressure to keep prices low for increasingly price-conscious customers.
Yup, pretty much.
A business is there to make money. Obviously, businesses that pay employees better have lower turnover and higher employee satisfaction. But what do you do if the price of keeping the lights on goes up? You can either increase prices, which will see fewer customers, but keep in mind that customers will just go to a coffee shop that's cheaper. So the better option is to keep the prices the same and lower employee wages.
Business are feeling the pressure of our failing economy. Are some being jerks about it? You bet. I even worked for some. But I believe in a truly wealth-equal economy people are so well off jerk employers are just ignored.
But most people currently don't have that choice. Quit an employer and you have a 50/50 chance of getting a job within a few weeks or ending up on the streets.
But I believe we can get to a more sustainable economy. It might take a lot of effort, but I believe we can get there!
What is the actual problem that's not mentioned?
Why's that? What happened?
I've often tried to foster the idea with others of starting a programmer's union. What do folks think of that?
Like, just imagine of even 1% of FAANG workers unionized.