In the workplace, power - especially “power over” - is often the invisible hand shaping culture, decisions, and relationships. It’s embedded in systems, inherited from broader societal structures, and rarely named outright. Yet, it’s everywhere.
As society evolves, so do our expectations of work. Movements like The Great Resignation, Quiet Quitting, and the backlash against Return to Office (RTO) mandates aren’t just trends - they’re signals. They reflect a growing tension between traditional power structures and a workforce that’s questioning the status quo. Organizations often avoid talking about power directly. But it shows up in:
Command-and-control management styles
Unequal access to opportunity
Assumptions that employers hold all the cards
The truth? There’s an unspoken social contract between employers and employees. And lately, that contract has been renegotiated - ie younger generations who are challenging outdated norms.
Take the viral #RTO debates: From TikTok to LinkedIn, professionals are sharing their frustrations, mocking tone-deaf corporate messaging (remember WebMD’s infamous video?), and calling out the disconnect between leadership and lived experience.
When organizations cling to “returning to normal,” what they often mean is “returning to power as usual.” But that’s not sustainable. Ignoring the shifting dynamics of power means losing relevance—and talent.
Power isn’t inherently bad. But when it’s unchecked, unshared, or unexamined, it shapes workplace culture in ways that alienate, exclude, and stagnate.
So, community:
Let’s talk about it.
Let’s name it.
Let’s reshape it.
How is power showing up in your workplace?
What shifts have you noticed in the social contract between employers and employees?
What do you think? Drop your thoughts below 👇