To be sick of this, think it is utter bollocks and the next generation are actually bang on?

[Usunshine]

I’m in a professional role. Historically this career (like many others) is stay late, keep working, do absolutely everything you can for your job. I had a conversation with my manager in a 1:1 review meeting where he said I was doing fine, couple of bits to work on but all good and happy with performance etc. A normal review meeting really.

He then proceeded to say next I want to really mount the pressure, I want you to be feeling you have too much work and have to say to me ‘(Eric), I can’t take this on, it’s too much.’ I want you to almost feel like there’s so much on that you are non stop. That will mean next year we can talk about more money. It will mean late nights of course. We want to keep building more and more.

I have worked hard in my life. I’m late 30s and I’ve actually done the whole putting your life on hold to pass professional exams, worked late and weekends. I’ve done all that. I watch younger versions of me clocking off at bang on 5:30 and be called snowflakes by older members of the team. But I think good for them. For fucks sake why am I being told I have to have so much pressure I can’t manage the workload?! Why is that necessary? In my opinion the younger generation has it right. It’s not lazy logging off at half 5 to play tennis or go for a drink. It’s sensible. There’s no prizes for working yourself to the bone. Interested in others thoughts on this as I had a completely different view a few years ago.

Eric sounds like a twat

Christ

needs to be one heck of a salary and bonus for this to be worthwhile

if others are leaving on time, so can you.

ive been in the middle- did long hours with the pay package being worth it. But no way without it.

@User122456 there’s lots of them !

No thanks Eric, I’d be looking for a new job he sounds awful to work for.

I’d rather Eric showed me the money now. Then I can decide whether it’s worth setting myself ablaze for. Probably not though!

Yeah, it sounds like it - these ‘older’ members of the team calling the people who clock off at the end of their contracted hours ‘snowflakes’ are also getting the twat badge. What a shit culture. No thanks.

Lawyer?

I think I'd burst out laughing if an employer said that

Hopefully you are well paid now otherwise it's really not worth it.

When I used to work in financial services I remember some twat of a manager asking me to stay late and I said no. It wasn't even important work that needing doing but he said something like "if I was interviewing you for a job here, I bet you'd tell me you'd happily stay late when I asked" I replied that that I wouldn't say that and if he'd interviewed me and asked that, I wouldn't have taken the job. Utter twats everywhere in that sector.

Absolutely fair that younger generations (or any generation) reject that culture.

I'll pass thanks, Eric

Sounds like something he saw on an Insta reel about screwing over your employees, bet it would be followed up with either a) it’s been a bad year so sorry we can’t pay more b) you’re clearly coping so have Kevin’s work too or c) sorry we have to let you go!

Before Covid people in my office would rush around flapping making so much noise about deadlines. Now I know better and can see in hindsight it made no difference to cause everyone so much stress. I quite happily say that we need more time, and funnily enough, clients accept it. It makes no difference!

Quiet quitting also comes to mind. In other words, just doing your job well. Long hours are completely unnecessary.

Made me think of Eric from Industry for some reason.

Eric is a twat. Was that meant to be his inspirational speech? I'd be tempted to tell him by 15th Jan latest that I had too much work... I'd also be looking for another job.

Is this Eric from Industry 😂

Also late 30s and nah, I have a life beyond work. Eric has a very old-fashioned attitude.

Isn’t it supposed to be about quality not quantity these days?

Unmanageable workloads have been linked to poor performance and even negligence… in fact even demanding clients are now saying they don’t want work that’s been done at midnight as it’s not good work.

However… if you work in a billable hours based industry… things are going to be very slow to change because more hours at your desk literally equals more money for the firm. (Not necessarily for you, mind).

I agree, I try to avoid staying late where I can help it. The only times we are really expected to stay late is staff meetings and parents evening/events. Other than that by 4:30 I am out of the door to collect DC! I've had a few older and more experienced teachers tell me I don't stay late enough...

New HT said pretty much the same as your Eric -described how in last school, colleagues had resigned due to 'the pace', and that similar expectations would soon be in place for us too. We're already working our socks off; there are no more evenings left. And in teaching, it's not as if working harder actually pays better ‐you are where you are on the pay-spine regardless.

I look at my DC and would hate for them to work like me and have zero life. I don't care if they stay living at home forever.

Eric is a dick and I think I would have laughed in his face.

Anyone who thinks working extra hours and going above and beyond in their jobs needs a bit of a wake up call I think. Nothing in the world makes it worth all the lost personal time with friends and family, or the detrimental impact on health.

we live on a floating rock, and yes, we need money to survive and a purpose (which comes to lots of people through a fulfilling career), but for goodness sake, we only live once so we must enjoy our lives!

I do the hours I am paid to do, will work extra if absolutely needed (but take the time back on quieter days), and take all my annual leave and make sure to fully switch off. This is how it should be!

Maybe if Eric needs more work doing, he need to make a case to his boss for more staff.

You’ll like this one OP.

do watch, it’s spot on!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/579229161172294/?referral_source=aggregation_page

So Eric, have you heard that valuing quality work and ensuring your team are productive is done by ensuring their work is balanced.
No? Funny my new employer has!

Reminds me of an old boss I had 30 years ago, who wanted ambitious staff who weren't afraid of CSFs, the "Cold Sweat Factor", as he called it. He said he wanted people to wake up in the middle of the night, worried about those deadlines. It became quite a joke, and we talked about him for years afterwards. Died fairly young, of a heart attack, so take that as a warning - clock out with the young folks at 5.30 and relax!

(edited for typo)

In my experience, employers are more than happy to use you, and dangle a carrot until you cannot offer any more, then they move on to someone else who will go above and beyond.

I used to think the way forward was to work yourself into the ground, but all it did was see me professionally taken advantage of and my mental health suffered immeasurably.

So I'd be doing just as the younger generation are doing, making work about paying the bills, not necessarily trying to fast track movement upwards.