Have to email to ask for more work before I leave

[menore]

I work in a sector with long work hours. I usually finish around 7-8pm. I have my own projects, and if I have time I help with other people's projects. Management have now brought in a policy that we should email around a 'capacity request'. This is basically asking for work if someone is really busy. We have been told that it will look very poor if we waltz off at 6:30 without doing this. Does anyone else have this?

What does your contract say about working hours and responsibilities?

This depends what sector you work in and what your role is. A junior in an i bank should absolutely be doing this.

This sounds like Big management consulting or investment banking, however I would expect your remuneration will (or should) be higher than most people at your career stage plus potential
for bonuses etc.

Worked in Big 4 and this was the norm.

Yup, I also did this in consultancy. Stuck it for 10 years for the cash and experience, and now do a similar thing in house where my salary trajectory is lower but the workload isn’t insane.

I was great pre-kids, but if you’re doing that rather than bedtime it must suck.

I think this type of culture is reasonably common in my profession. It's easier to manage as you get more senior. If the work life balance doesn't suit you, can you move to a different firm with a more relaxed culture - eg leave big four or city law or whatever and move inhouse or regional - accepting the pay cut that goes with that?