[pseudoramble]

This is a bit tangential, but, have middle managers ever actually had those powers? I mean this in a genuine way. My post college career began in 2011, and all I've known is hopeful managers who aren't empowered to do much of anything like just decide to hire a person, give somebody a raise, or make major changes to company strategy or anything. Is that one of those things that really did exists like offices with closing doors and other things?

[303uru]

It's a fair question. To be fair, I entered my field post pharmacy school in 2013 and was immediately place in a middle manager position. The "old dogs" spoke a lot about the days of old in which they did have a lot of power and flexibility. I've since moved up in another company into a national VP level position and I hear the same from older VPs, they used to have more power and flexibility. So anecdotally, I think there has been a lot of consolidation and power hoarding in high level executive positions.

[JohnFen]

> have middle managers ever actually had those powers?

Oh, yes, I've had many managers who were empowered over the last 35+ years. I have one right now. But how true this is depends on the company culture.

I doubt that I'd stick around long at a company that wasn't like this. I'd leave on the basis of the company having poor management.