I live by this phrase: I was looking for a job when I found this one.
Don't ever allow an employer, who you willfully work for, ever make you fear the ability to survive. Corporations thrive on the fact that most employees are terrified of termination. DON'T be! It removes their power.
If I am not on the clock, I will not take calls, answer text messages, respond to emails or reply thru Microsoft teams. I absolutely DO NOT work for free.
DO NOT attend any mandatory, after hour functions. If you are not being paid for your time, you are not required to attend. DO NOT allow anyone to guilt you. You are NOT required to sacrifice your free time. Demand compensation or adjusted time off during that pay period.
DO NOT explain why you are taking the day off. It is NOT their business.
DO NOT do the work of more than one person, unless the corporation agrees to double your salary. Even if it's just temporary, because it will almost always end in being permanent without a pay increase.
Your employer would never do anything for free!
DO put in 100% effort.
DO be dependable.
DO be honest.
The ONLY thing you owe your employer is that you will show up, do what's expected, and not commit wage theft by being a useless employee.
Every annual review, I show up and review my employer as well. If I deem they aren't meeting my expectation, I terminate our relationship.
You are not obligated to give a two week notice!
I know not everyone is comfortable taking power away from employers, but try it!
My boss asked me to do something this week that is an absolute no-no in the clinical research profession. I told her I absolutely would not do what she's asking. She can write me up for insubordination or terminate me. She did neither because I am an asset, and she knows I wouldn't care if she terminated me.
I was looking for a job when I found this one.