My [32 engineer] attitude at work has always been :
- I work like hell to get everything done whatever the cost for me (even if I have to not sleep, not see my friends, work on the weekends etc…). I never say no.
- I have a reasonable attitude : I don't make demands unless they are absolutely necessary
- I always help people even if I don't have to
I behave like that because I believe it'll grant me the following results :
- I will be rewarded (raises, training that will be useful for my professional future, promotions)
- I will be liked by people. In turn, they'll be nice to me
- Since I'm behaving in a reasonable manner people will be reasonable too with me. For instance, my boss won't put additional workload on my shoulders even though I'm struggling
The results so far has been the following :
- I haven't been rewarded at all (no raises, no training, no promotions, not even a thank you – which costs nothing)
- Rather than appreciating my help people take it for granted and act mean. My boss screams at me and insults me.
- No one is reasonable with me, especially not my boss who forces more workload on my shoulders even asking me to do things that are (almost) useless
Then I see people who do less work than me not being bothered by my boss. They are being treated better, they are able to get a fulfilling personal life. They get raises, bonuses.. and my boss doesn't assign them unrealistic workloads.
I thought I should get rewarded for the sacrifices I make but instead I'm being punished for them.
I feel like my view of how the workplace functions doesn't set me up for success but rather for failure. Is there any resource (books for example) I could consult which explains how the workplace works and how to succeed? (how to be rewarded and still have a personal life for example)