As Greaber wrote in his original essay for Strike! magazine, "I'm not sure I've ever met a corporate lawyer who didn't think their job was bullshit."

He also called out "private equity CEOs, lobbyists, PR researchers, actuaries, telemarketers, bailiffs or legal consultants" - many if not most of those are in the private sector.

Part of his point was "According to economic theory, at least, the last thing a profit-seeking firm is going to do is shell out money to workers they don't really need to employ. Still, somehow, it happens."