Look around at who gets ahead. It's the people who say yes to everything and know how to flatter the right folks. They can't actually do the technical work. Ask them to solve a real problem and they fall apart. Empathy? Leadership skills? Not a chance. They just know how to climb.
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@3ab What are you talking about? A LOT of people got in or got promoted through their parents or their parents friends. Happens a lot in Digital.
@s8 How is nepotism part of this equation? I worked at Cigna for 18 years and don't know of anyone who got the job because their parents also worked there. The OP is right, however, it's all about how well you network not what you know or how hard you work. It's corporate.
Wow. These comments are so true. I was JE’d toward the end of 2025. I have had a lot of time to think and reflect and this is spot on. I was a band 4 who absolutely spoke my voice and questioned the status quo. I advocated for my team and asked the difficult questions. On the other hand, I was definitely a team player and dedicated 10 + years working 60 hours a week giving every thing I had to bring positive outcomes for my team, colleagues and Cigna customers. And yet I was JE’d without a second thought. Everyone is replaceable. I miss my team and my colleagues the most. But I think it was a blessing in disguise because I would have continued to give more and more if asked. Hang in there and remember your worth and have personal boundaries.
@s8 Same at my dept, very cliquey and do the same behaviors you mentioned. No shame when they steal credit.
@eg if you’re not part of The nepo clique you’re going to be miserable. I am trying so hard to get out of my department. Bunch of incompetent, lying, backstabbers. They talk behind your back all the time and take credit for other people’s work. It’s impossible to get promoted unless you’re part of the crew.
@eg I have been stuck at a high band 3 since 2015. I can’t seem to get out of this role. And they won’t promote me to band 4 even though I’m the top contributor. I tried to apply out several times in different areas but am always told, “You interview well it’s just that so-and-so blah blah blah…..” but probably all for the best because there has been so much restructuring that I would have been affected. Two years ago my skip level “presented” an offer to “promote” me to B4 but the offer and presentation was sh&tty. “You know you will have a work phone, and need to be available on nights and weekends….AND commit to the role for two years.” I turned that sh&tty offer down after speaking with my mentor. I realized I’m not desperate.
My comment is specific to the digital org. I agree that this happens at every large company. People that make leadership feel good about themselves get promoted - “yes people”. Usually your top contributor challenges the status quo, questions decisions and is their a better way to do something. This type of person is the one that should be promoted yet gets held back because of leadership seeing them as “rough around the edges” and “difficult to work with”. I’ve been passed up on promotions 3 times and each time I’ve been given excuses like - I had to hire the other people because they’ve maxed out salary at their current level, another time was - because they’ve been here longer than you have. Trust me when I say this “I’ve asked them if neither was the case and you were hiring people based on skill level and potential would you have still made the same decision?.” Once they said I can’t answer that and you know it, the other time they said I would have hired you in that scenario. That being said I’m one foot out the door!
@ec That's why everyone is offshoring these days. No one cares about intelligence, character or good people.
@e1 No wonder this company is failing in this current market.
@OP, why do you think this different than any other company? Half of moving up the chain is political. I've worked at a large number of companies over the course of my career and every company operated this way.
Every company I have worked for has been the same. Being good at your job typically gets you more work and no promotions. Being good at kissing a-s gets you promoted into nice do nothing high paying jobs.
Everyone here has anger issues. Smh
@OP These types were exactly who got to stay. No talent, no skill, no empathy, and no leadership ability. Great at flattering higher ups.
Digital has a lot of these types. Lots of nepo babies with family in high places at other companies as well. They are terrible at technical work and block outsiders from joining.