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Send to your PPMD and let them know you identify as Australian
I definitely identify as Australia or as Europeans that take such nice “holidays”!
I work extremely efficiently during normal working hours and communicate boundaries for evenings. I was able to be more flexible before kids, but now small lives depend on me, so it's given me the confidence to respond with the time I'll be able to get to things, whether post bedtime, if truly critical, or next day.
This! And if you’re extremely efficient in getting the work done compared to others - don’t rush to send it out.
By not caring what other people think of me.
Yep.
The more you act like your time is valuable, the more people will respect it. I don’t really care what anyone else is doing, if I’m getting my work done and my clients happy, I’m enjoying my evenings. If I have a full plate of work, I’ll say no to taking on more or caveat what I can and cannot do. If I need to work more to support something I’m responsible for here and there or to help out a boss or coworkers who have done solids for me or that I generally like, I will.
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I say I’m volunteering at my local church for lent festivities
I set boundaries between certainl hours but am always willing to work after those hours or early in the morning.
After our partner scolded me unnecessarily when I was on a speaker phone driving with my kids in the car, I refuse to take calls on my evening time with kids around. I was mortified, embarrassed and had to justify why I allowed that to happen - nope those few precious moments I get with my kids are now dedicated to them. I have a big responsibility in life and making them good people is that responsibility and that takes being present.
F
You game the system.
Instead of saying “I have to eat dinner”, or “that’s my kid’s bedtime”, you just say you’re double booked for that time and can’t make it. They’ll assume it’s a project or PRD meeting.
If you have boundaries for a reason, but get your work done timely and at quality, people will respect your boundaries. Everyone has to roll up their sleeves and work late sometimes, for some deadline - but as a general practice it you need to carve out evenings, should be manageable. How do you make up the time though? If you’re more of a morning person and are likely to wake up early and tackle to do’s before everyone else comes in, that works too - but may be best to communicate that to the team. Like “hey, I’ll generally be on early to work on any comments that come in during the evening, text me if there is something urgent. Generally I try to block of the evenings for x, but can accommodate if and when needed.”
Why are people working late? Need context to provide insights.
If it’s a cultural thing, you might have to assimilate or find a better fit elsewhere.
If the engagement was poorly scoped/staffed, then I’m afraid you’ll have to grind it out.
If the circumstances are closer to the later, be prepared for unpopularity if you unilaterally pursue WLB.
Ah. It’s a cultural thing — org wide, too. Shame.
Time to start applying / networking 😎
Take off time in middle of day - naps and yoga and dates and errands - work at a bar 5-8 every evening.