This year I've started setting better boundaries at work (not replying to messages on weekends, logging off on time, etc). I've still met all of my deadlines and completed my assigned work. My manager recently mentioned a "slip in my performance." I asked for evidence but they couldn't really provide it to me. I know it's because of my new boundaries - what should I do? Am I doomed?

My thoughts. It’s all about priorities. Work is just one aspect of our lives. Personal growth and family are others. I think finding the right balance for you is important. Just remember, they don’t put how many hours you worked on your tombstone.

Same here. When I was young in my career and eager to spend ridiculous hours of my life working maybe. But at some point boundaries are required. Remain flexible, yes, based on deadlines and priorities. But if you set the precedent of “always being available” then not surprisingly folks will take advantage of that and burn you out. Provide quality but set healthy boundaries. We are not born to work ourselves into the ground. There must be balance so I applaud you for striving to have it. It is a toxic work mindset and folks wonder why people have mental health issues and burn out.

My thoughts: Your manager can’t give you an example because there isn’t one - people can and should work hard, be effective, and have strong boundaries; being a workhorse will eventually burn you out (ask me how I know). You made a mistake though, in not communicating your boundaries before you started enforcing them - as far as your boss knows, you’ve stopped working hard and being a team player and they don’t know why. You need to have a candid conversation and explain why you’re setting boundaries and how you’re maintaining the quality of your work, with the understanding that there will be infrequent times you will need to jump in (and determine what those are, too).

Your reply should be exactly what you shared here. Met all your deadlines, completed all your work, etc. Then state you are "confused" by this communication. Now, they have to provide actual clarity as to their statement. They have to "un-confuse" you per se. Make sense?

You get ONE spin around this planet….. do you.

One of our most well known and successful SVPs at GE chastised a large group of sales people for always “being on”: he told us it led to our clients respecting us less, burnout, and lower quality of work. He told us to be on vacation when we’re on vacation, be with your family when you’re home, etc. and explained how he did it. He was an old school, tough as nails guy, and it was 2002, way before “setting boundaries”. It was like a revelation for all of us.

With such turmoil in the job market. Perhaps you should 86 those boundaries and keep them happy. You’ve set the bar of your production level hence that’s why the comment was made.

Are you doomed because one manager doesn’t like not being able to reach you 24/7? No. Hold strong to your ideals, encourage those who come after you to do the same.

When I started at my gig, everyone worked OT. I shut that down after one month and, would you look at that, morale increased and productivity did not decrease. Your manager might be having survivors bias (ie I didn’t set boundaries so neither should you). Again, change the narrative.

Go to HR and describe the situation. You cant be scolded for not working overtime (for free nonetheless). Tell them you asked for an example and you were not provided one. Tell them its not in line with company values. This way you are covered and one can see 2 sides of the coin. This if you dont want to leave. Unfortunately one has to set boundaries from day 1 and stick to it, both are difficult but it can be done. Be relatable in your explanations when you do so.

Besides just performance is your attitude at work. If you have boundaries you will be happier when you are working and it will show with your co-workers.

I had the same comment made to me after I decided the same. I’d been an employee/manager for 11 years and was told I had to be available 24/7. I still made myself available, but not at a moments notice after hours (and by that I mean after 8 pm) or on weekends, I started taking part of my 6 weeks of vacation. I was a finance manager (highest level in the finance dept) of a gov agency. I passed every audit (more than one a year) every year, met every deadline and always managed my work load beyond expectations. When I was told by the executive director that my work had suffered when I started dating my husband and they could not point to an example, and then proceeded to demean me to my staff, I gave notice.

I’d look for what I may be missing.

Make sure you are posting your managers frequently as well as any stakeholders in your business. I have found that sometimes a weekly posting is more effective than anything I actually get done when it comes to “Performance Reviews”. I think the finance industry as a whole doesn’t have a great hold on KPIs so they use what they have which is often hours worked disregarding the level of productivity. I had a new manager come on and criticize my effort because I was working less hours than some other team members but I quickly demonstrated to him that during those hours I was getting way more work done. Good luck!