It’s not a crime to only want to work your legally assigned hours.

While there are professions that normalize and even encourage a large amount of overtime, they are not in the majority. Aside from when they are working towards something important or other exceptional circumstances, most employees expect to be able to regularly clock out at a certain time without any guilt trip for them to stay longer.

Doing extra work isn’t the end of the world, so long as people are properly compensated for it and those expectations are set out clearly and fairly. Those who do not want to engage in that kind of work culture will likely avoid these kinds of positions. What is unfair, however, is when an employee expects to work a set number of hours every day, but then circumstances suddenly change, and they are forced into a position where they have to work for longer.

For those who find themselves in this situation, it isn’t always easy to speak up. A company or a boss who has these kinds of expectations may not be receptive to criticism of their working practices. Nonetheless, it is important to set clear boundaries when it comes to working hours.