Serious question, when did we all start acting like we need to be 'on' 24/7 for our jobs?

I was on a family trip to the coast last month, and my phone buzzed with a work email at 8 PM on a Saturday. I started typing a reply, and my sister just looked at me and said, 'Who died? Is the building on fire? No? Then put it down.' It hit me that I had been doing this for years, answering stuff that could wait until Monday just to seem dedicated. I was burning myself out for no real reason. That quick reply didn't get me a raise or a promotion, it just set the expectation that I'm always available. Now I have a hard rule: nothing after 6 PM or on weekends unless there's a true emergency. My work is actually better because I'm rested. Has anyone else had to set a hard line like this, and how did your boss take it?

3 comments

3 Comments

leo_fisher2mo agoMost Upvoted

Your sister is a genius, and your boss can wait until you're back on the clock.

the_william2mo ago

What's more important, a family moment or a work email? Leo_fisher is right that bosses don't own our off hours. Your sister's big win is a real thing that happened, but that work problem will still be there tomorrow. We have to stop acting like every job message is an emergency. Protecting personal time isn't being lazy, it's setting a basic boundary.

bell.felix2mo ago

Wait, did you just say your sister had a big win? That's huge! How can anyone even think about checking email during something like that. Those family moments are the actual point of all the work we do, right? If we miss them for a job that won't remember the extra hour, what are we even doing? The work will absolutely still be there, but your sister's celebration is a one time thing.