I am an engineer in the construction industry. Recently I saw a post regarding an individual who turned down overtime as a construction manager.
I sent this post to my mentor with an inquisitive question.
I wasn’t expecting him to agree, but to my surprise he not only disagreed but brushed off this whole movement as a desire for attention and validation by others through social media rather than based off any sort of legitimate concerns.
I continued my questioning in the form what would he do if he was a manager in a country with workers protections, or a social attitude dissimilar to Americans. He stood his ground in his attitudes that working harder will he rewarded. We found some common ground but generally strongly disagreed on principle, that doing the bare minimum is the job.
I respect this individual a lot, and he was a blessing to work under before he moved to another state. I can’t get myself to speak my actual mind…
His first job was FOR HIS DAD. During 2008 they laid off every single person with less than a months notice EXCEPT him. He wholeheartedly believes this is based on merit and that the partners needed him despite cutting their own hours. During that crisis, he and his wife bought their first rental property.
When I was first hired, he came down with an illness prior, his wife would drive him and pick him up, he was in the office 4-5 hours while collecting his full salary for about 9 months. Eventually He left to be a partner at a company in a different state, basically C suite parallel.
Without him acting as middle manager, I was treated so disrespectfully reporting directly to the partner who wasn’t his dad. I vented to him and he dismissed my concerns because “P was never like that to me”. Gee I wonder why?
They also moved at the perfect time, to buy a home out of state.
He will continue to see his success as a result of merit, I won’t be the one who suddenly change his mind. I can see why he has the views he has, I would too in his position.