I’ve been fired for setting boundaries. They called it “not being a team player” and “not working hard enough”. I thought I was working my ass off, while trying to save my marriage from near divorce. Loosing that job was the best thing that happened to me that year. If I had stayed and tried to work harder it would of cost me my personal life. If you’re willing to risk the job, make sure you’re risking it for something and that those boundaries are really there to protect something more valuable than being able to just piss off on the weekends
You obviously are young enough that you have not yet been fired for “setting boundaries” with your employer. The reality is the market is flooded with equally skilled talent that will work the hours your employer requests if you won’t.
If im working 40 hours and my coworkers are working 80, i couldnt care less. It is management's responsibility to fairly distrubute and assign workloads, not mine. I signed up for this job demanding a 40 hour work week, I am enforcing that, i will not allow myself to be abused because my coworkers allow themselves to be abused. Im not working 50 hours so they can work 70, im not even working 41 so they can work 79. There is a personal relationships between each employee and their manager to determine how many hours the employee works, and that is not my responsibility or problem.
I'm very glad youre not on my team either, i feel like id be ignoring your desperate Saturday emails constantly. No thanks, id rather not leave this field. I enjoy the wonderful work life balance ive made for myself here. Love seeing my kids, biking, cooking, etc...
Manager 1 I disagree. Chat with any recruiter or just take a scroll through FB; there is is far more available talent than there are open positions these days. In my 20 yrs in this industry, every boundary setting employee I’ve ever seen was quickly fired or laid off. Try it and let us know how it works out for you...
I recently shared that I got to spend a whole 6 hrs cleaning on a Saturday with a superior and then got asked why I didn’t use those 6 hrs to get a head start on my work for the next week after I had just worked a 60 hr week. The week after I worked 80 including an all nighter. When I expressed how it can never happen again I was looked at like I had a third eye. My agency regularly praises overworking in front of the company at all hands meetings. And I was told in the interview they had a great work life balance there. 😂😂😂😭😭😭
You might not get fired but you will get sidelined. Once you are the boss you can do as you please but I don't have an S in front of my title because I have set boundaries (and am a woman and have kids/reason for the boundaries). I'm both grateful I made it to the level where I can set and enforce boundaries (no meetings 6-8 pm) and pissed off that setting them is even a chip I have to play.
I disagree CL1. The market is NOT flooded - it’s hard to recruit and retain and there are lots of jobs where work life balance is possible and encouraged. Keep pushing back! I have more respect for those who work for me and push back than those who don’t.
I think it depends if/how setting boundaries affects those around you. If it means you work 40 but the rest of your team still works 80, that’s a problem. If you redistribute work and manage up, you might not have the same issues leaving at 5 every day.
You have to responsibly set boundaries. Can’t just go to boss and be like hey boss I’m tired seeya! I’m setting limits! You have to give them proof that you are fully doing your job and that you want to contribute. If you work at home, be “on” and let everyone know. Be annoying about it. Ask everyone, even if you know they’re good, ask them if they need help. Offer to work a late night if you need the next three weeks free of late nights. If you don’t give your boss proof that you’re not “a team player” when setting boundaries, then yeah. You’ll get fired for not being a team player.
Glad you’re not on my team R/GA. FWIW, I don’t think you should “let yourself be abused” but I do think it’s everyone’s job to work as a team and stand up for each other. Maybe you should look at a less interdependent field.
Any Slalom Consulting Australian fishes here? Keen to hear your thoughts on the Australian firm so far, in terms of work life balance, pay and the projects you do.
I’ve been fired for setting boundaries. They called it “not being a team player” and “not working hard enough”. I thought I was working my ass off, while trying to save my marriage from near divorce. Loosing that job was the best thing that happened to me that year. If I had stayed and tried to work harder it would of cost me my personal life. If you’re willing to risk the job, make sure you’re risking it for something and that those boundaries are really there to protect something more valuable than being able to just piss off on the weekends
You obviously are young enough that you have not yet been fired for “setting boundaries” with your employer.
The reality is the market is flooded with equally skilled talent that will work the hours your employer requests if you won’t.
If im working 40 hours and my coworkers are working 80, i couldnt care less. It is management's responsibility to fairly distrubute and assign workloads, not mine. I signed up for this job demanding a 40 hour work week, I am enforcing that, i will not allow myself to be abused because my coworkers allow themselves to be abused. Im not working 50 hours so they can work 70, im not even working 41 so they can work 79. There is a personal relationships between each employee and their manager to determine how many hours the employee works, and that is not my responsibility or problem.
Did you just drop the 20 yrs in this industry line?!
I work an 8 hour day every day, i just walk out. Theyre used to it now. If i can do it, you can do it, and if we all do it, no one gets shit for it.
I got let go for “setting boundaries” by having to go to the doctor too often to deal with a health issue
Don’t ask for permission. Ask for forgiveness 😂
I'm very glad youre not on my team either, i feel like id be ignoring your desperate Saturday emails constantly. No thanks, id rather not leave this field. I enjoy the wonderful work life balance ive made for myself here. Love seeing my kids, biking, cooking, etc...
Manager 1 I disagree. Chat with any recruiter or just take a scroll through FB; there is is far more available talent than there are open positions these days.
In my 20 yrs in this industry, every boundary setting employee I’ve ever seen was quickly fired or laid off. Try it and let us know how it works out for you...
I recently shared that I got to spend a whole 6 hrs cleaning on a Saturday with a superior and then got asked why I didn’t use those 6 hrs to get a head start on my work for the next week after I had just worked a 60 hr week. The week after I worked 80 including an all nighter. When I expressed how it can never happen again I was looked at like I had a third eye. My agency regularly praises overworking in front of the company at all hands meetings. And I was told in the interview they had a great work life balance there. 😂😂😂😭😭😭
You might not get fired but you will get sidelined. Once you are the boss you can do as you please but I don't have an S in front of my title because I have set boundaries (and am a woman and have kids/reason for the boundaries). I'm both grateful I made it to the level where I can set and enforce boundaries (no meetings 6-8 pm) and pissed off that setting them is even a chip I have to play.
I disagree CL1. The market is NOT flooded - it’s hard to recruit and retain and there are lots of jobs where work life balance is possible and encouraged. Keep pushing back! I have more respect for those who work for me and push back than those who don’t.
I think it depends if/how setting boundaries affects those around you. If it means you work 40 but the rest of your team still works 80, that’s a problem. If you redistribute work and manage up, you might not have the same issues leaving at 5 every day.
Setting boundaries will definitely get you sidelined. I do it because I don’t have an alternative but it does hurt you.
You have to responsibly set boundaries. Can’t just go to boss and be like hey boss I’m tired seeya! I’m setting limits! You have to give them proof that you are fully doing your job and that you want to contribute. If you work at home, be “on” and let everyone know. Be annoying about it. Ask everyone, even if you know they’re good, ask them if they need help. Offer to work a late night if you need the next three weeks free of late nights. If you don’t give your boss proof that you’re not “a team player” when setting boundaries, then yeah. You’ll get fired for not being a team player.
Glad you’re not on my team R/GA. FWIW, I don’t think you should “let yourself be abused” but I do think it’s everyone’s job to work as a team and stand up for each other. Maybe you should look at a less interdependent field.
Wow RGA you sound like a real team player.