I think this community will understand. I live in the U.S., told my employer during the interview that, “I already have a job I can stay at, they have incredible work/life balance, and that is an important thing to me. Is that something you can offer if I take this job?” He told me, “Yes, honestly I don't think I've worked more than 50 hours any week since I got here.” I took the job.
Fast forward 5 months. My boss is ALWAYS on until like 10pm. We hired a guy below him and above me who is often in at 8AM and leaves around 7PM. There always seems to be an emergency. I tried to “kick it up” and work longer for a couple weeks, but I quickly realized it's always “emergency time” and that will never stop, so I started going home at 42.5 hours every week regardless of what's happening. I feel like a day is coming where they're going to sit me down and tell me I'm not committed enough to their organization. I'm prepared to tell them they're absolutely right, and they shouldn't tell applicants they have good work life balance, and that my conscience is clean. I have enough savings to live for about 3 years without a job.
On the other hand, it is a small team and I am a valuable employee. I am a natural problem-solver in this line of work, and my 42.5 hours are SOLID hours. They are focused. I eat at my desk. I only break for about 20 minutes throughout my day. Yesterday I solved a crucial problem for our team that neither me nor my two bosses were able to solve for about two months. They need what I'm bringing to the table. They may realize that and just write me off as a bullshit millennial, but one they really need at least for a while.
I'm playing chicken with this employer and it feels really weird, but liberating.