Is Your Company a Cult? A Deep Dive into the Dark Side of Work Culture

We’ve all heard stories of notorious cult leaders like Jim Jones and Charles Manson. While their stories are extreme, they share surprising parallels with toxic workplaces that seduce employees into blind loyalty. So, let’s take a deep dive into the signs your company might be more like a cult than you realize.

The Love Bombing Phase

It starts with praise and adoration. You’re told you’re “the best of the best,” showered with swag, treated like a chosen one. This is classic cult leader behavior: make you feel special, chosen, and part of something bigger than yourself. Just like the followers of Jim Jones felt part of a movement to build a utopian society, toxic companies make you believe you’re helping change the world. And, you might be. But is the hook the only good part of the company?

Pause and ask yourself:

• Do you feel special working there even though you’re unhappy?

• Does the company repeatedly make you feel “lucky” you are employed there despite the traumatic behavior behind the scenes?

If your answers reveal fear, anxiety, or excuses that protect the company over your own well-being, it might be time to pause and reconsider where your loyalty lies.

Belonging vs. Boundaries

In the cult, belonging is everything. At work, you might notice boundaries begin to blur: you’re rewarded for sacrificing personal time, guilt-tripped for setting limits, or gaslit into believing dissent equals weakness. Promotions go to the most loyal, not the most skilled. Sound familiar?

Pause and ask yourself:

• Do you defend the company more than yourself?

• Do you fear disappointing leadership more than failing the job?

• Do you ignore red flags or dismiss concerns about the lack of respect of your boundaries or values raised by friends or family?

• Have you read (or seen) The Devil Wears Prada? Or read Careless People: A Cautionary Taile of Power, Greed and Lost Idealism? I suggest both!

Transparency as Performance

Cult leaders often use faux transparency to maintain control. Companies may host “Ask Me Anything” sessions that reveal nothing real or curate leadership vulnerability to appear authentic. But when layoffs hit, the details are hidden, and difficult questions go unanswered.

Pause and ask yourself:

• Are people who leave treated as traitors or weak?

• Are reductions in force done without any communication about the company strategy changes?

Break the Spell

Even the most infamous cult leaders like Charles Manson relied on manipulating people’s fears. If you’re seeing red flags, listen to your doubts. Seek outside perspectives. Audit your loyalty. And remember: loving your coworkers is not a reason to stay trapped. A healthy workplace earns your respect, not your worship.

Pause and ask yourself:

• Do you work for people who you truly respect and admire?

• Would you still accept the job today knowing what you know now?

Final Thoughts

A real cult demands your soul. A healthy company supports your growth, your boundaries, and your humanity. If this resonates, share it with someone who might need to hear it. Until next time, remember: your loyalty belongs to yourself first.