The law of the jungle is an iron law, make people around you feel bad, be a tattletale, and you’re choosing to be ostracized.

That said yr interlocutor disturbs me a bit because yes, they certainly will make it out to be a mental health episode. But the implicit deal there is “STFU. You can even take paid health leave.” It’s not healthy either. BigCo is insane I’ll never work for one again without outrageous comp.

You’d be stunned by even the simplest story. Ex. a year in some crazy shit was going down and my manager asked for my thoughts on a topic, I was honest and basically said “I don’t think it’s a good idea, but in my experience, raising issues involving people only raises more issues.” He swore up and down it wouldn’t be a problem, eventually made a deal I could email it to him privately. Next 1:1 with my area lead was horrible, them seeing red, hearing a mistranslated version of what I said, and I had 0 warning.

In Europe I speak up all the time, even to people who are not in Europe.

(Usual disclaimed that this is my opinion.)