The record
Written from the 1 report below. Nothing here is unsourced.
- May Lee was laid off from Hewlett-Packard in February last year at age 59 after nearly three decades at the company, which she had joined as an intern in 1987.
- After months of failing to land another technology job despite referrals, a friend suggested she look for work she actually enjoyed instead of a high-paying role.
- Lee applied through contractor Amentum, which services the United States Antarctic Program, and was selected as a supply technician after background checks and physical examinations.
- She travelled to McMurdo Station in 2025, where she handles supplies, operates a forklift and checks deliveries, alongside volunteering as a DJ for a 1980s-themed music show.
- The job pays far less than her technology career, but savings and a paid-off house allowed Lee to reinvent her life in a close-knit Antarctic community.
What to watch next
- Whether more late-career corporate workers follow Lee's path into unconventional jobs, a theme her essay highlights
- How US Antarctic Program staffing through contractors like Amentum evolves amid reported cost pressures at big tech firms
Who said what3
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May Lee
3 quotes · 1 outlet
“As a graduate, I wanted to sign on for life with a good company that I knew I could be loyal to and would be as loyal as a company could be. I didn’t want to climb the corporate ladder or jump from company to company. If I hadn't been downsized last February, I would never have left,”
In the article
…led her to a completely different working environment. Lee had not planned to leave HP. She said she had deliberately chosen to build a long-term career at one company rather than continually move between employers. “ As a graduate, I wanted to sign on for life with a good company that I knew I could be loyal to and would be as loyal as a company could be. I didn’t want to climb the corporate ladder or jump from company to company. If I hadn't been downsized last February, I would never have left, ” she explained. There had been indications that the company was undergoing changes, including a hiring freeze and a temporary reduction in working hours. But the eventual layoff was still difficult for Lee after…
“I felt a combination of disappointment and sadness. This was the company I’ve devoted my entire career to and had hoped to retire from,”
In the article
…that the company was undergoing changes, including a hiring freeze and a temporary reduction in working hours. But the eventual layoff was still difficult for Lee after spending most of her working life at HP. “ I felt a combination of disappointment and sadness. This was the company I’ve devoted my entire career to and had hoped to retire from, ” she added. Following the layoff, Lee initially tried to continue along the same career path. She applied to technology companies and reached out to people in her professional network. But despite her experience and…
Coverage1
All filed from India
Named Antarctica · United States · Hewlett-Packard · McMurdo Station · Amentum · Anjali Thakur · Business Insider · May Lee · United States Antarctic Program
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