Looking for advice. I'm two months into a new accounting role with a standard 5-day week. I always complete my work on time, but a senior is suggesting I need to be available on weekends just in case, even though there's no extra pay or time off. He's implied that saying no could negatively affect my reviews. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of expectation, and how did you handle it? I'd kind of like to have a life.

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I think it’s important to consider the why before choosing how to respond. As a senior manager I personally hate asking my teams to work the weekend and don’t think it should ever be assumed that everyone is always available.. but if there’s a deadline or due date coming up sometimes there’s just no way around it. There are absolutely times where I need you to do something Saturday so that I can look at it Sunday so that I can in turn send it to my boss by Monday. But If your senior isn’t able to help you understand the reasoning behind it and is just going with the “well that’s just accounting culture” then that would be a nope from me. Sorry I have a previous engagement.

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Good luck, that's the been the story of most of my career. I will say that if you go with it it is near impossible to pull back in the future at the same place. You have to decide what is more important to you, the best chance (not guarantee by any stretch) of a promotion or raise or having a life. This place is making it pretty clear already that you won't have both. Pick your priority and make peace with it.

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I think it can be expected of many accounting roles including very low-paying positions. I am not a CPA but have worked in many accounting roles where you are expected to be available to work overtime with no extra pay or additional compensation of any kind.

I dealt with the same thing and ended up burning out fast. If I could go back, I’d set firmer boundaries. You completing your work on time should speak louder than "just in case” hours.

Almost 9 years in big 4 and I basically don't work weekends. I let people know I can be available if something big is pressing. But with planning ahead that basically doesn't happen.

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