#492  from Innovative Leader Volume 9, Number 9          September 2000

FORUM—from our readers

Get a Life!

I work for a company that was started five years ago and has been doubling in size, and profit, each year.  I’ve only been here for a year.  The work has been challenging and satisfying.  My coworkers are great and there’s a possibility that, through stock options, I will make a ton of money--someday.

The company routinely takes on more than it should handle.  We are given assignments that normally, with hard work, should take at least four months.  But we’re told to complete them in three.

This results in workdays that begins at 9 in the morning and end at 8 or 9 in the evening.  Most weekends, we have to spend at least a half day here.  It’s exhausting, but we get the work done; then we hold our breath for the next high-pressure assignment.  That’s usually a one-week reprieve.

Most of my coworkers are single and have the workplace as their sole social activity.  We eat most of our lunches and dinners together--usually at the company.  I can recognize every takeout delivery person in the area.  Even after work, people usually go out together to a movie or to a bar.  However, that’s where I draw the line.

I’m married and have a three-year-old child.  Obviously, the demands of my work interfere with my family responsibilities.  I’m not forced to work all of this extra time, but the project involves close teamwork. I’d be letting my colleagues and my company down by not putting in this time.  By the way, when I was hired, they told me that I’d be putting in extra hours “every once in a while.”  I guess they were telling the “truth.”

So I have to make a choice.  Either let my company or my family down.  I can rationalize that this will be a few-year inconvenience that may someday result in sufficient wealth to allow me all the time I want with my family. 

I’ve decided, however, that the wealth--if it comes into being at all--isn’t worth sacrificing my responsibilities to my spouse and child.  Therefore, I just handed in my resignation.  Hopefully my replacement will be single.

I wonder what will happen to the company when these single people eventually realize there’s tremendous satisfaction from non-work related activities?  Will they all leave as soon as their options bring them sufficient wealth?  Will the company be able to replace all that talent and experience?  Perhaps, even the executives will simultaneously leave with all their new wealth.  I sure wouldn’t want to be a new shareholder, or new employee, when that time comes.

Anonymous