[headmelted]

It still exists, but as other replies have said, it’s worse in academia in general.

The reason isn’t specifically to do with academia - it’s because you’ve entered what’s effectively a state of modern indentured servitude.

Your career (and future) is directly dependent on the person you report to, which naturally leads to them abusing that because they’re human and therefore fundamentally horrid.

The same happens all the time with conditional visas like the H1B. Sure, you could push back, but it’ll mean your life as you know it is over, so you won’t.

I wish I had something nicer to say about this, but sadly I don’t, because humans.

It’s why I work for myself now (which I realise is not an option for many). I’ve too many stories of my own about being abused by employers.