Toxic Culture at Workplaces

 A recent death of a young worker at an Accounts/Audit firm has brought the culture of overtime work into focus. Mostly, this is unpaid labour, and therefore unfair.

Employees have a life beyond work, so if they do their fair share, they don't deserve extra work being dumped on them, unless it's a once-in-a-long- while exception. That may not have been the case here. 

Managers need to use empathy, especially while working with a new inductee. I have heard stories from some ex-students about work culture, and some are not so great. Some also want to know how to switch from corporate jobs to academia, in the hope that that will provide a better balance of work and life. True, mostly.

Goals and Achievement

 Goals are personal, or institutional- at the workplace. Some of these are at odds. For example, working hard, without adequate rest at your job may be good for the Employer -assuming you are a productive worker-but may take a toll on your health/personal life, if you are not careful. Spending time with kids, spouse, parents or others takes a hit, unless you have friends at workplaces.

Also, a much-needed change of scenery may not take place. It's refreshing to actually meet new people, on a regular basis. That includes re-meeting old friends whom you may not have met. But it could be new people, or experiences that help the mind (and therefore, body) to cope with constant work pressures.

There are countries and economies that stress a work-life balance, and are usually rated as being among the 'happiest' in the world. Even if you dispute those rankings, there's something to be said for a Work/Life balance. If you don't believe me. read two excellent books by Ricardo Semler- Maverick, and The Seven Day Weekend. He might convince you.