I was recently laid off from my role due to a restructuring at my company, where I had dedicated the last three years of my life. I worked tirelessly, often from morning until night, including weekends, only to find that the very people who bullied me during my time there have now been promoted to management positions. My former manager is now the head of engineering, and one of the women who led a smear campaign against me has become a team lead. It’s disheartening to see them rise while I’m left to pick up the pieces. They manipulated the situation to ensure I was seen as a threat because I was getting visibility and recognition for my work. I feel bad for their team members, as I know how toxic the environment can be. It’s frustrating to realize that despite my hard work, it seems that popularity and manipulation trumped productivity in this corporate landscape.