Don't be a human resource
If you apply for a job in tech, the human resoures function is now commonly called "people operations."
While that's a slight improvement over "human resources," the underlying premise is still that the employees are cogs in the machine.
This may be one of the reasons you can't stand working at ANY company and are considering going 1099. No matter how many perks the company throws at you or how nice everyone is, the company is still trying to get you to behave in a certain way to their benefit.
I don't think this is wrong, but I do think it's unnatural. The sucky part is most people just accept it and culture makes you think you are the one who is crazy.
But you're not crazy.
So if you've ever thought to yourself "ugh why can't I just be happy at a job," know that the job is the glitch, not you.
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I have two book recommendations for you:
The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd
Paul is a former McKinsey consultant who had enough and decides to quit and not get another job. His reflections on going out on his own are honest and insightful. If you feel weird about your work, this is like having a buddy who can tell you why it feels weird.
Do you know why you're able to go 1099? Well, the book explains why governments have become effectively run by consultants and contractors. Whatever your feelings are about government consulting or contracting, it's interesting to learn about the industry and explains some of the weird incentives you see in your own company or work.
Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.