The Cost of Silence: Lessons from a Whistleblower on Speaking Truth to Power
Radical Candor Podcast
Candid Communication Tips & Career Advice to Help You Kick Ass at Work Without Losing Your Humanity.
In 2017, Susan Fowler Rigetti's blog post about her experiences at Uber sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley and sparked a crucial conversation about workplace culture. Her subsequent memoir, Whistleblower, revealed deeper insights about the true cost of staying silent in the face of systemic injustice—and the power of speaking up.
This week on the Radical Candor? , we have a Radical Respect crossover episode with Kim Scott and Wesley Faulkner talking with Susan Fowler Rigetti about how to speak truth to power.
The Hidden Costs of Staying Silent
The price of silence extends far beyond the monetary implications. While many justify their silence with unvested stock options or future financial gains, Rigetti points out a profound truth: most people would actually pay to avoid the psychological and emotional trauma of workplace mistreatment.
The toll of remaining silent in toxic environments can be severe. During her time at Uber, Rigetti had colleagues attempt suicide, and she personally struggled with depression. The constant gaslighting led to a profound sense of losing touch with her own identity.
"You can only hear that so much before you're like, what is wrong with me? Am I making this up? Am I losing my mind?" Rigetti recalls. The psychological cost of enduring such treatment while staying silent often far outweighs any potential financial gain.
Why Documentation Matters: Keeping the Receipts
One of the most practical lessons from Rigetti's experience is the importance of thorough documentation. For those facing workplace issues, here are essential strategies for maintaining records:
Most crucially, Rigetti emphasizes that reporting to HR—even when you know they won't help—is vital for establishing legal standing.
"If you do not report to HR things that are happening, then you cannot legally hold them accountable," she explains. This documentation creates a record of the company's failure to address issues properly.
Breaking Through Systemic Barriers
Understanding systemic barriers is crucial for effectively challenging workplace misconduct. Rigetti's experiences taught her that success cannot be achieved within corrupt systems that reward harmful behavior. She advocates for recognizing these barriers and understanding the rules of the bureaucracy you're operating within.
The reality is that not everyone has the privilege to speak up. Those on work visas, supporting families, or facing other personal constraints often cannot risk retaliation. This makes it even more important for those who can speak up to do so.
The Rewards of Speaking Truth
While speaking up comes with risks, the rewards can be profound. Beyond potential external validation or career opportunities, the most significant benefit is maintaining one's sense of self and personal integrity.
As Rigetti notes, "Anytime that I did something that I felt was true to my character, true to who I want to be and who I aspire to be... I look back and I'm like, wow, am I ever glad I did that."
She maintained her sense of self during difficult times by making daily lists inspired by Benjamin Franklin's practice—writing down values like kindness, justice, and honesty—to stay anchored to her core principles despite a toxic environment.
Moving Forward
The path to creating better workplaces requires more than individual acts of courage—it demands systemic change. However, each person who speaks up helps expose the mechanisms that enable workplace misconduct and pushes organizations toward accountability.
For those facing similar situations, Rigetti's experience offers a powerful reminder: silence may seem safer in the moment, but the long-term costs—to your wellbeing, your sense of self, and your ability to look back on your choices with pride—often far outweigh any temporary protection it provides.
The choice to speak up isn't just about addressing immediate workplace issues; it's about contributing to a larger movement toward accountability and respect in professional environments. As more voices join the chorus, the harder it becomes for organizations to maintain systems that protect and enable misconduct.
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Tune in to the Radical Candor? Podcast to learn to love your job and kick a** at work without losing your humanity by practicing the principles of Radical Candor. Host and Lead Radical Candor Coach Amy Sandler leads discussions with Radical Candor Author and Co-founder Kim Scott and CEO and Co-founder Jason Rosoff about what it means to be Radically Candid, why it’s simple but not easy to Care Personally and Challenge Directly on the daily, and why it’s worth it. Want to bring Radical Candor to your team? Drew Muir or Dan Greene can help! Have a topic you want us to discuss? Email it to [email protected] .