Is Work Pressure Becoming Too Much Lately?

Taro Milk Tea on 31/08/2022 - 10:27
Last edited 31/08/2022 - 12:32 by 1 other user

Reading this article today, and it ripped my heart.

I once also work in a company where it put so much pressures to the employees in terms of deadline, management's expectations and unfair treatments. It became too much for me that it impacted my mental health, which made me resign within 6 months.

Such a shame that these days, people actually live to work rather than work to live. More pressures now added because of many factors: inflation, COVID and etc.

Unfortunately, this is probably not the first time we hear this kind of news, but this needs to be taken seriously. Mental health is not a joke, big companies need to stop being too greedy about their numbers and start paying more attention to its employees wellbeing.

What do you guys think about this situation? What needs to be done to prevent this to happen again?

Education & Work

Comments

  • mbck on 31/08/2022 - 10:36
    +32

    Good on you.

    I think if you can't handle the work, you just need to get out, there is no point pushing yourself.

    Consequently, if others can handle it, good for them too.

    Find something that works for you.

    • iNeed2Pee on 31/08/2022 - 10:49
      +7

      I agree, I just wish it was easier said than done.

      • zathras on 31/08/2022 - 12:30
        +50

        It is easier said than done.

        • iNeed2Pee on 31/08/2022 - 12:38
          +1

          Can you quit for me?

          • kolorijo on 31/08/2022 - 13:02
            +2

            @iNeed2Pee: I quit, I need 2 pee.

          • idonotknowwhy on 01/09/2022 - 07:13
            +3

            @iNeed2Pee: They're saying this because you said you wish it were easier said than done.

            It already is easier to say you want to quit, than to actually quit.

            You used the phrase incorrectly.

        • SeVeN11 on 02/09/2022 - 10:06
          +1

          Agree with this.
          I think the older and more experience you get the easier it is to simply say no thank you.

          I know someone who was asked to take on more work and responsibilities as another person left the team. They simply said no thank you I really like what I have.

          They offered them more money, they still said no thank you.

          Eventually the just paid them more money and forced them to do it.

          They then spent the next 12m pushing back on all work and eventually got that work palmed of to another team so that they didn't have to do it.

          They are now doing the same work, most probably a little less compared to 12m ago except they get paid more.

      • thwarted on 01/09/2022 - 17:32

        When its all said and done…. there's usually been a lot more said than done.

  • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2022 - 10:37
    -4

    I once also work in a company where it put so much pressures to the employees in terms of deadline, management's expectations and unfair treatments. It became too much for me that it impacted my mental health, which made me resign within 6 months.

    So, you've only ever worked once and never again since that happened? Did you get any help to get back to work?

    • Taro Milk Tea on 31/08/2022 - 11:04
      +3

      yeah only once in that kind of company. I took a few months break just to get mentally ready again and found a new job in a smaller company.

      Did you get any help to get back to work?

      Not really, just basically reaching out to my community and they have helped a lot

      • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2022 - 11:20
        +1

        What kind of company was it?

        Sounds like you have a very kind & thoughtful community. How did they assist you?

  • SF3 on 31/08/2022 - 10:39
    +7

    1. Companies shouldn't do it, but they will, this isn't new…

    2. Move on, unfortunately…

    3. It's typically the culture, therefore deeply ingrained. Regulation change would likely have little impact, besides giving employees, some "Employee Assist Program"… (e.g. the fix is you have some 3rd party you can talk to).

    • DemocracyManifest on 31/08/2022 - 11:05
      +10

      Most have EAPs but they aren’t a solution for poor management and conditions

      • SF3 on 31/08/2022 - 11:37
        +6

        The solution is all the people within the company has to change their behavior, that ain't going to happen, especially if it is systemic. The system fuels itself through each others sh1t behavior.

        The people within the system aren't going to change their ways, when they have been doing their sh1t for the longest time and it earns them a form of success… Also most of the sh1t behavior is an undercurrent, it's not always obvious.

        e.g. If ScoMo can get away with secretly signing himself to other portfolios, isn't this just a reflection of how bad things can be in any organisation.

    • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2022 - 10:43
      -2

      That's right, Dane or lawyer-up!

    • Zondor on 01/09/2022 - 08:52
      +3

      Do you think higher management care what the "Drones" below them think? Your heads in the clouds m8.

      • Danstar on 01/09/2022 - 12:13
        -1

        The thing with a job is; no one is holding a gun to your head to stay there.

        If you don't like it or it's too hard for you; move along.

        • Griffindinho on 01/09/2022 - 15:07
          +3

          Not everyone in that fortunate position of just moving to another job. Most people work to live. Literal wage slaves.

          • Danstar on 02/09/2022 - 12:13
            -1

            @Griffindinho: Plenty of jobs out there; and no job is more important than your well being.

            Especially if you’re posting this sort of stuff on a bargains forum. It’s more likely that my original comment is the truth

            • Griffindinho on 02/09/2022 - 15:34

              @Danstar: Yes plenty of slave type jobs available

              • Danstar on 02/09/2022 - 21:11
                -3

                @Griffindinho: Lol. This is what Australia and the left wing woke world Is turning into. No one wants to work hard and everyone wants to do as little as possible but still be rewarded and paid the highest price possible.

                • Jolakot on 03/09/2022 - 13:37

                  @Danstar: This is a bargains forum, you're here to get the most for the least, nothing wrong with that

                  • Danstar on 03/09/2022 - 14:24

                    @Jolakot: Most of things most probably don’t need. We just want cos
                    It’s cheap

                    • Jolakot on 03/09/2022 - 15:51

                      @Danstar: Getting as much as possible for the least money/effort is the Australian way, that goes for both employees and employers, just as it does for retailers and customers

  • orangetrain on 31/08/2022 - 10:42
    +5

    Do the math, look at $ / set hours + extra hours. If it's below minimum wage, you're working like a slave :(

    • Taro Milk Tea on 31/08/2022 - 11:08
      +11

      I wish it is as easy as that.

      Unfortunately, some people are under tough life condition and really need that job that they are willing to be slaved that much.

      And let's be honest, most of the time money does matter and people are willing to stay in that job because they need the $

    • drprox on 01/09/2022 - 21:25
      +5

      Just say it, Big 4 Accounting grads

      • BreezyPalms on 02/09/2022 - 20:03

        This plus law grads plus investment banking grads

  • tallkid123 on 31/08/2022 - 10:45
    +16

    What do you guys think about this situation? What needs to be done to prevent this to happen again?

    Nothing will change. HR will have sent out their messages to staff with support links and a directive from management about reviewing their social events policy.

    Otherwise, there will be a small in-house remembrance for the deceased and then back to work.

    It'll be different to when I worked at a small company a few years ago where one of the finance team members committed suicide. It was quite surreal. One week, we wait together to use the microwave in the office kitchen. The next week, he's gone, the MD is in tears and we're all told to go home for the day.

    Also, my dad started his career as an ex-Big 4 auditor while he was at uni. Even back in his time in the 70s, auditing was a shit kicker job and just a way to get your CA sponsored.

    So yes, unfortunately nothing will change.

    • orangetrain on 31/08/2022 - 11:00
      +16

      What will change is that HR will try harder to monitor for suicidal tendencies and fire them before they die as an employee.

      They'll do this via "anonymous" surveys, manager assessments, etc.

      Gotta keep the gravy train going I guess

      • tryagain on 01/09/2022 - 19:09

        I worked overseas on a site once, the directive was to get really sick/injured people to hospital ASAP…….So they didn't die on site.

    • DemocracyManifest on 31/08/2022 - 11:07
      +2

      A few years ago a manager at a coles jumped in front of a train; the AM harrassed the shit of of them. I doubt anyone who knew them got time off

    • Taro Milk Tea on 31/08/2022 - 11:13
      +3

      HR will have sent out their messages to staff with support links and a directive from management about reviewing their social events policy.

      Most of the time during company meeting, the top management always mention how they genuinely care about their staffs' well being and mental health. And then, like you mentioned above, send the link for the staff to get their support.

      Unfortunately, they just need to make sure the $ they spent for that support are utilised well and they can include it on its' company report just to protect their image.

      • tallkid123 on 31/08/2022 - 11:44
        +1

        the top management always mention how they genuinely care about their staffs' well being and mental health. And then, like you mentioned above, send the link for the staff to get their support.

        Referring back to my ex-colleague's suicide, a few of us were putting together a little remembrance slideshow afterwards for his memorial service. What I realised however was that I was digging through old company event photos and this guy, even though he attended those events, never had many photos. And the ones we did have of him were ones where he didn't look that happy to begin with. So the signs were there but subtle.

        His father even informed us later that he believed it wasn't our workplace that led to his son's death. Likely other factors which weren't any of my business.

        • DemocracyManifest on 31/08/2022 - 17:43

          Some people are literally Eeyore, humans are literally not machines and can do unpredictable things :(

  • Pcosmic on 31/08/2022 - 10:47
    +1

    Depends on what field and industry you're in

  • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2022 - 11:03
    -5

    More and more people are quietly quitting which is increasing the workload on others. This will lead to more people actually quitting. It is a death spiral.

    Employers want to hire the best candidates, but they do not want to use artificial intelligence… Why employers choose not to use the assistive tools readily available on the market is mind boggling? Employers complain of unproductive workers, but is there more to the story?

    • DemocracyManifest on 31/08/2022 - 11:08
      +47

      Quiet quitting is such a bullshit term. It’s called doing your job and going home; leaving work at work

      • iNeed2Pee on 31/08/2022 - 11:11
        +6

        I agree. You do your job to the best of your abilities. If the work gets done, then you are doing your job.
        Like you said, bullshit term.

        • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2022 - 11:30
          +3

          The problem is that most accountants do not finish on time without taking the material home and working until midnight without extra pay. I love how there is propaganda about everyone can be what you want to be; but do you really want to be that? "Insert random Accounting Body advertisement"

          Similarly, not everyone can be a barrister. The workload and deadlines need to be met so that your client gets the best results.

          The problem is these Accounting bodies have effectively marketed the work-life balance as awesome when the reality is a total lie. Most university students see through the lie before they enter into employment and choose an alternative path, but for many they do not know what they are getting themselves into.

          Accountants should have higher minimum standards. The profession used to be held with some sort of prestige but these days it is no longer the profession it once was.

        • Ghost47 on 01/09/2022 - 00:19
          +1

          It’s called doing your job and going home; leaving work at work

          I wouldn't say that's what quiet quitting is. Quiet quitting is doing the absolute bare minimum, e.g. if you have a meeting on Wednesday all you do is go into work, maybe prep for the meeting, present/speak at said meeting and then slack off the rest of the day, not following up on any action items that were given to you but maybe doing them the day after or the week after, basically when you can be arsed. It could even be going to work, finding a meeting room and just hiding in there all day doing nothing except browsing the web.

          Of course this will have negative implications for your career because you'll probably get a bad performance review for not exceeding expectations and that could lead to getting fired or made redundant eventually.

          • morse on 01/09/2022 - 07:58
            +6

            @Ghost47: I thought quiet quitting was doing everything in your role description but not going above and beyond. Not following through on actions won’t last long in most work places.

            • Sleeqb7 on 01/09/2022 - 10:58
              +4

              @morse: The lack of certainty demonstrated how BS of a term it is.
              I'm with you though, my understanding was 'quiet quitting' was doing your job, and doing nothing that is not in your specific job description, leaving as the minute hand ticks over to your finish time.

              As the term seems to be US centric, I think it's more for the hustle culture that's enforced by their lax employment laws. Bit less of that over this side of the pond.

      • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2022 - 11:17
        -3

        All accountants should do that. The problem is that most accountants are eating time and are not actually that productive but want to be paid those massive salaries. In effect these underclass, which should never have been allowed to become accountants, are actually a form of indentured servants.

        One might even go as far to state: Slavery was never abolished.

        • mskeggs on 31/08/2022 - 11:30
          +9

          Are you a bot? Your posts hover on the edge of making sense.

          • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2022 - 11:42
            +2

            @mskeggs:

            Your posts hover on the edge of making sense.

            You are too kind

    • suchan on 31/08/2022 - 15:29
      +7

      Agreed with @SirMurduck that it's a bs term.

      How is quietly quitting causing increased workload on others?
      - If the overachievers decided not to put in extra hours and effort anymore, then that "extra" workload falls on the so-called "underachievers" were previously not doing enough that we need overachievers in the first place.

      • If companies always require people to put in extra hours and effort so it can perform well, that means it has a flawed assumption that they have hired enough people. If 10 people with largely similar capabilities and knowledge are unable to finish a job by a certain deadline, it simply means either the deadline is too short, or that we don't have enough bodies working the work.
  • Lord Fart Bucket on 31/08/2022 - 11:11
    +4

    Few thoughts. It is sad, but it is unlikely things will change. Change will come if everyone revolts at once, but that is unlikely to happen.

    The problem i think is also RUOK day and the corporate sponsorship/bandwagoning that happens with this. It is not a day. It is every day.

  • tsunamisurfer on 31/08/2022 - 11:30
    -5

    Ummm what has this article got to do with work pressures?

    There is no suggestion that she was overworked and needed to 'end it'.

    In fact ….

    It has been alleged she was escorted from the venue by staff due to excessive consumption of alcohol, The Australian reported.

    So she was excessively drunk and went places where it was not safe to be drunk. Moreover the establishment tried to escort her out. The cause of this is stupidity not excessive audit reports.

    • CrowReally on 31/08/2022 - 11:45
      +10

      Oh, we can cancel the investigation then, if you know the cause. Thanks, psychic detective tsunamisurfer!

      I'm just glad you conclusively ruled out the possibility that being drunk didn't lead to her acting on an impulse, perhaps even a negative one based around her work!

      It's just as well that you are psychic, otherwise you'd just be someone who had no idea what they were talking about, but still making authoritative statements. Like usual.

      • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2022 - 14:53
        -2

        Whoa …….. obviously, this post is a little too close to home for you even though you're not the OP.

        It would be better if you get that rage treated rather than directing it towards other users.

        • CrowReally on 31/08/2022 - 14:57
          +5

          Yeah, there was quite a significant amount of rage wrapped up in my sarcastic dismissal, well-spotted.

          Keep up the daytime TV/Dr Phil analysis. You'll crack the code of 'perceiving common human emotions' yet.

          • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2022 - 15:01
            -5

            @CrowReally: One too many JDs?

            • CrowReally on 31/08/2022 - 15:03
              +6

              @[Deactivated]: Yes, this thread certainly is the right place to make jokes about someone being a bit drunk, hey?

              What are you (meant to be) good at, by the way? I presume it's something.

              • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2022 - 15:23

                @CrowReally: Lets see now, I asked the OP whether they are a teetoteler and sudden multiple down votes. You don't have to be Sherlock to figure out that this is a sore point and not just due to the circumstances of the news story that was linked because your 'sarcastic' dismissal was an overreach, if it was indeed sarcasm that you were aiming for.

                • CrowReally on 31/08/2022 - 15:33
                  +1

                  @[Deactivated]: Look, if you want to demonstrate your poor grasp of things ("Hey Crow, I'd love to share with you a guess as to why several people downvoted me on another comment, and no, it's not about me missing the point that they were making"), there's plenty of other places you can do it.

                  You really don't need to disappoint me anymore directly, I'm already 'there'. Trust me.

                  • [Deactivated] on 31/08/2022 - 15:44
                    -8

                    @CrowReally: I trust that your community is helping you in overcoming your rage and disappointments.

    • cookie2 on 31/08/2022 - 14:51
      +1

      Well I'd say it's an odd behaviour to go back to work After a work function, instead of home. I would assume going back to work meant they continued to work.
      I do believe that police must investigate the circumstances leading up to the death as you don't know what work related instances etc, may have contributed.

  • mskeggs on 31/08/2022 - 11:36
    +13

    Sadly easy to get trapped in a cycle of pursuing promotion/cash and finding oneself locked into a life with high expenses and commitments.
    If you earn $250k, have a $3m mortgage, kids at private schools, cars to pay off, holidays booked etc. it can seem like there is no way out. You feel you can’t change to a different job, because there is none available that will keep the tower of debt and expectation standing.
    How to navigate this is incredibly tough, and something it is hard to teach younger people.

    It doesn’t help when there are older colleagues who made it through the crunch years, benefited from asset/investment growth and pay rises, who are extremely wealthy, and comparatively unpressured.

    It is mentally very different to work a 60hour week in a challenging, high status, high pay job which you can leave any time, and working a 60hr week in the same job where you can’t see any option.

    • Donaldhump on 31/08/2022 - 15:35
      +14

      simple answer, stop keeping up with the jones, and just buy a simple house, where you aren;t waking up with a noose around your neck, and have a simple car with no loan. have more than one income stream thus if you lose your job, it isnt the end of the world as you could have a year or two buffer.

      • mskeggs on 31/08/2022 - 17:29
        +6

        I agree 100%.
        Unfortunately, the vast majority of colleagues in these roles early in your career are preaching "you need a reward for all your hard work" and that the trappings of success are important.
        Remember our own high yield Mercedes investor as an example.
        When everyone is spending it's hard to be the odd one out.

        By the time a lot of people get some maturity and realise there is more to life they are often in over their heads. And if you have a spouse and kids who have grown used to that lifestyle it must be very hard to roll it back.

        See the persistent media trope about a high flyer brought low to see that while the moral of the story might be you don't need wealth, the journey is frequently unpleasant.

        • Griffindinho on 01/09/2022 - 15:13

          When everyone is spending it's hard to be the odd one out.

          Maybe don’t surround yourself or Assosicate yourself with these types or those who are temporarily embarrassed millionaires.

          • mskeggs on 01/09/2022 - 15:23

            @Griffindinho: Very hard when you are at your job so much of your life. I think its a big problem.
            Obviously not as much as people going without, but mentally corrosive.

      • striker5950 on 02/09/2022 - 19:06
        +1

        you mean be in a "F#ck You" position?
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdfeXqHFmPI&ab_channel=OmidM…

    • drprox on 01/09/2022 - 21:29
      +1

      I figured out the system on this, never really earn heaps of money and actively avoid promotion. I have always enjoyed a comfortable wage but never so much I could get myself into trouble :D

      And I resigned a month ago because of job pressures too. Actually really enjoyed the last few weeks and got myself a casual contract back there so might do a few hours on my own terms for a while!

  • nubzy on 31/08/2022 - 11:39
    +4

    Yes. Screw the rat race. Bring on the revolution.

  • DJR9000 on 31/08/2022 - 11:41

    We don't know all the details of what occurred so it's too early to tell.

    Getting back to the question… lots of things in society are a push-pull kind of cycle: boom-bust / under-supply/over-supply etc.

    Employees and employers go through this a lot, lately it's been the "great resignation" ie. employees taking action over stagnant wage growth and poor conditions to move on. I think quite a lot of employers do try and do the right thing, but there's also a lot of shonky or unethical ones too.

    I know in Big-4 and lots of big companies there's lots of talk but little action, which a lot of time comes down to CYA unfortunately (Cover Your Arse)

  • Drakesy on 31/08/2022 - 12:12
    +14

    I had the same issues in consulting however made sure i was never trapped in my role by keeping my lifestyle costs down, this was what fortunately allowed me to shop around for a new role.
    In a way the government/development/banking industry created an environment requiring locking yourself into 30 year mortgages and working 2 jobs to minimise the chance of you existing on a lower wage.

    Lo and behold the recent labour squeeze has resulted in significant wage increases, was able to shift from consulting 50 hour weeks with timesheets etc to government with 38 hour weeks and no timesheets with a pay increase of the order of $50k (they were able to negotiate out a pay structure due to market conditions and didn't have to stick to the arbitrary levels.

    Loyalty is dead and work life balance is the future, strongly recommend and forcing their hand and going elsewhere.

    At the end of the day the stress isn't worth the best years of your life.

  • nubzy on 31/08/2022 - 12:15
    +1

    True work life balance is not a 35-40 hour work week as an employee. It is choosing when/how/who you work for and working as little or as much as you desire. I’d like to see some regulation in the gig economy and embrace this type of work. People will have the flexibility they crave and can retain their agency, which you lose as an employee. Work has become a soul sucking misery for too many people. I know I could never work a ‘normal’ full time job. I earn a low income and have a lot of difficulty growing it as a sole trader but the freedom is priceless.

    • GG57 on 31/08/2022 - 14:20
      +1

      It is choosing when/how/who…

      You forgot to include where

    • Griffindinho on 01/09/2022 - 15:15

      Capitalism can’t function without exploitation. If more people ended up deciding when to work. Companies won’t generate enough profits to be sustainable lol

      • SlavOz on 03/09/2022 - 11:51
        +1

        The beauty of capitalism is that if you don't like your job, you can find a new one or start your own business.

        • Griffindinho on 03/09/2022 - 23:19

          The beauty of capitalism is most fail.

  • TChalla on 31/08/2022 - 12:54
    +7

    Used to work there within Audit.
    Output & productivity is the only thing they care about. The hours they say you work is not what you actually work because you end up just not "charging" your time on the timesheet.
    As far as my experience goes, anything to do with "work life balance" or "reasonable hours" that the firm speaks of publicly is a load of bullshit.
    All my Ex Big 4 friends also have the same experience.

    Upside - Great experience though and epic parties / drinks, it is a resume builder and I learned a lot, just a shit trade off of my early 20s Monday - Friday and weekends in busy season to get that experience on the resume.

    • Homr on 01/09/2022 - 10:34

      Wait, I thought all big4 allows staff to WFH? Is that bullshit too?

      • TChalla on 01/09/2022 - 11:40

        I was there for 5 years ending in 2018, WFH was not a thing in the Big4 back then (maybe once in a month or so).
        Most of the time we would be at the client site or at the office.

    • illusion99 on 01/09/2022 - 19:53
      +1

      Agree. I got in trouble a few times because I put my actual hours worked on my timesheet rather than the standard 7.6 hours. Official policy was to charge your actual hours but then the engagement partner will crack it if you actually did it. Hence all the partners keep saying 'our systems show our staff work an average 8 hours a day- so all that talk about burning the midnight oil is just a myth'

  • KaTst3R on 31/08/2022 - 12:59
    +12

    Companies should spend less on internal social (drinking) events and budget that amount to programs to improve health and mental well being. Honestly, I never felt I'm off work at corporate drinks. It is another form of work. I rather take that $50 my company would have spent on my beers towards a spa treatment or a nominated sporting event like a 2hr private tennis session.

    • Taro Milk Tea on 31/08/2022 - 13:31
      +12

      And no to mention the pressures they add to you if you choose not to attend those drinks/social events.

    • Zondor on 01/09/2022 - 08:54

      Why not both?

    • Mr Haj on 01/09/2022 - 15:24

      Companies should spend less on internal social (drinking) events and budget that amount to programs to improve health and mental well being

      Isn't that in a way the very purpose of corporate drinks? Improve your relationship with your coworkers, improve working culture, improve overall health (excluding liver) and wellbeing.

      • Taro Milk Tea on 01/09/2022 - 15:26
        +2

        Isn't that in a way the very purpose of corporate drinks? Improve your relationship with your coworkers, improve working culture, improve overall health (excluding liver) and wellbeing.

        In theory, yes. In reality, nope.

    • meong on 01/09/2022 - 23:57

      I agree, i'm an extrovert but I find this work hard play hard motto is about hanging out with your colleagues after work and it is also heavily romanticised in movies especially Hollywood's.

      I think if I have already spent so much time working I would rather spend the rest of my time with myself or people who will actually stay in my life outside work such as family, friends etc

      • KaTst3R on 02/09/2022 - 09:44
        +1

        Im an extrovert too.

        At corporate drinks, you wanna let loose but you cant let loose. The constraint is actually pretty mentally draining. And you would have to ninja around different groups of people to "build relationships", create conversations, look like you are having fun but at the same time everyone is assessing each other. It is just a such a tiring game. This is after many years in financial services.

        I would rather spend time with my real mates and family where I can totally let my hair down.

        • meong on 02/09/2022 - 11:55

          I can relate to this too!

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