I Work 80 Hrs a Week w/No Rest in Sight. Am I Right to Feel Exhausted, Angry, Stressed?

[Reltubsirch0412]

For the past year and a half I have had a job where I work, by my count, almost 80 hours a week from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. I also work weekends. I work holidays. After I recently made a few mistakes I never made at other jobs, due to fatigue, I approached one of my bosses and explained that my fatigue was the reason. I then asked for a paid week off to rest and recharge my batteries. My boss told me that I could, provided that I do two week's worth of work in the span of one week. Well, that's IMPOSSIBLE.  

Obviously, in my opinion, my bosses are two people who will not listen to reason, so there is little point trying to communicate with them. I have come to understand that the person I replaced in this position left because she thought my bosses were unreasonable. I want to quit, but I also need money to live on. 

I'm currently looking for another job. I don't have as much time to look as I wish I did, but my resume is out there. 

This job takes a toll on me mentally and physically. I suddenly have arthritis for the first time in my life. I'm guessing that's my body reacting to the stress. 

I hate people who complain. I am glad to have a job. But....this situation....well.....it just seems extreme.

My questions:

(1) Am I being unreasonable to think my boss is working me too hard? Or is my boss the unreasonable one?

(2) It's probably stupid to tell my bosses that I think they are being unreasonable? Right? I fantasize about it. Sometimes I think that maybe I could say something compelling to get through to them and make them see the light. But the cynic in me believes it's a wasted effort, and the only thing I can do is get out as soon as I can.

(3) Have any of you been through this before? How did you handle it.

 

 

 

 

 

[Ronni_W]

OF COURSE working 80+ hours a week is going to take its toll!

It's not really clear though, from your post, if all of your other colleagues are doing the same thing, or if you just took it upon yourself that you need to do it in order to 'keep up' or to keep this particular job.

Have you asked for a raise so that you are at least compensated for your extra hours that you are putting in?  In any case, under no circumstance would I suggest that you try your option (2).

It also does not matter if your boss's expectation is unreasonable, or yours.     What is the overall 'vibe' at this firm? What are your colleagues saying and how are they reacting?     Are you being treated unequally when you compare your own work conditions, circumstances and situation to theirs?

Sometimes, if we don't like or appreciate how we are being treated (at work, home, with family or friends or whatever), then we just need to take the necessary steps to extricate ourself. That might be what you need to do here...which, I get that you are doing, by seeking a different and better employment opportunity, for which I sincerely wish you the best of luck. Hopefully something much better will come along for you.

[preraph]

It's not even legal to work somebody that many hours in a lot of places. if you're going to be working 80 hours you should be getting a salary from two different jobs. Listen I work two jobs most of my life but it was usually at least one of them that I didn't mind doing. You don't live to work. You work to live. When you reach a certain age you realize you are just working your life away for no good reason. You need to find another job and don't even tell them how many hours you were working or they'll try to suck more out of you. Get yourself a 40 hour a week job like is normal. Then if for some reason that doesn't get the job done financially, you could temporarily do a little something on the side to catch up once in a while without devoting your whole life to it. It's easy to get caught up in that but it's a waste of your one life.

 

 

[Ellener]

Keep a record of your hours for any future lawsuits...if you feel it's pointless to try to make things more manageable start looking around and planning for alternatives.

Do you have a work contract stipulating hours or are you a contractor? Where are you, what is the employment legislation?

[Reltubsirch0412]

I appreciate the questions, but I don't want to give away too many specific details about my situation. Someone might narrow me down by process of elimination. 

[Fletch Lives]

Working that many hours is not healthy - I'm not surprised you are having issues. 

40 hour work week is standard for a reason.

[snowboy91]

80 hours a week for one job is absolutely unhealthy - and in many places illegal. 

Your health and your wellbeing are more important than a job, you should consider leaving it and finding a new one ASAP.

Your bosses need to learn that work/life balance is vital to keeping employees and ensuring they do high quality work. Some studies suggest that people doing 60+ hours a week do as much work as people doing 40, since they're much less efficient due to exhaustion. So you're much better off doing only 40, being happier and actually wanting to go to work. Voting with your feet might teach them a lesson.

[RecentChange]

Are you working to live, or living to work?

80 hours a week, unless it's something you are absolutely passionate about, and truly love is insanity.

We only have one life to live, no one ever says "I wish I worked more" on their deathbed.

Surely there is another way you can pay your bills. Working 80 hours a week they should be paying you so much you can afford to take a little time off while you look for a new job.

How did you get stuck in this predicament? Do you have a ton of kids that you need to support, or some crazy debt?

No job is worth damaging your physical and mental health over like this. Start looking for a new job like yesterday. 

[Mr. Lucky]

On 3/9/2020 at 11:27 PM, Reltubsirch0412 said:

I appreciate the questions, but I don't want to give away too many specific details about my situation. 

I get that, but it would be helpful to know if you’re in the US and whether you’re a salaried/exempt employee.  No one will pick you out from a crowd of 50 million or so.

What’s wrong with “no” ?  As in “No, I won’t work nights and weekends on top of my regular schedule” ?

Doesn't sound like you have much to lose...

Mr. Lucky 

[Eternal Sunshine]

I suggest that you start dropping some balls. When your boss asks what's up, point out that you have done 40 hours of work that week.

I was in a similar situation and ended up leaving. Now they are advertising for 2 full time roles to replace me (and are struggling to find any applicants). If I stayed, I would have continued to kill myself with work and stress. No job is worth it, especially when you are being used.

Edited March 14, 2020 by Eternal Sunshine

[ironpony]

I agree that many hours a week is true insanity.  I would have quit after three months probably of that.

[Rockdad]

Do I think your being overworked uh yes. Do you have the right to feel as you do?  Yes

Having worked two full time jobs for over 6 years including weekends and holidays in my experience the stress did me in.  Found myself doing a 9 day stint in the hospital and a torn up body, ulcerated bleeding stomach, colitis and pancreatitis. The Dr pressed me to quit one job which financially I thought was impossible to do but the physical stress made that choice for me. I would encourage you to find a way to cut back the hours before your body gets damaged even just some of those hours.

I eventually got down to 60 hours working my new business and found that was a big help. I seriously wondered what people working 40 hours did with all there free time?