The Invisible Black Woman

They love to dangle perks like carrots: health insurance, a 401(k) match, mental health days, free snacks in the break room. And sure, those things sound good on paper. But none of them will ever balance the books if the job itself is draining the very core of who you are.

Think about it: what’s the use of a dental plan if you grind your teeth every night from stress? What’s the value of paid time off if you spend your entire vacation recovering from burnout instead of actually resting? What’s the point of gym discounts if you’re too mentally and emotionally exhausted to even lace up your sneakers?

That’s the bankruptcy nobody talks about: the quiet overdraft on your spirit. You clock in, give your all, and slowly realize that the account you’re depleting isn’t your bank account, it’s your peace, your health, and your joy. And unlike money, once those overdrafts pile up, there ain’t no easy repayment plan.

So the next time someone brags about the “amazing benefits,” remember to ask: benefits for who? Because if all the extras are just disguises for an environment that steals from your soul daily, then it’s not a package. It’s a payoff. And the cost is way too high.

Until next time, I wish you nothing but sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns, which are no less fictitious than the idea that free snacks can ever make up for a toxic workplace.