So first off, I already make close to $20 an hour (around 36k a year) and my job offers a lot of flexibility. I work somewhere between 32-40 hours a week and often only work 4 days. It's common for people in my workplace to call out for minor sickness, mental and physical. Management doesn't care because work gets done.
That said, current job is pretty dull and doesn't pay a living wage for the area I'm living in. I've been searching around, putting applications in. Interviewed for an entry-level IT position, didn't really meet the qualifications but figured it was worth a shot. I aced the interview and received an offer a few days later.
45k a year, only two weeks PTO, and they expect you to be in office (no WFH during weekdays) for up to 45 hours a week or more and to be available for calls and emails on weekends.
This some sort of joke? Most salaried people at my current job work less than 40 hours a week and certainly aren't expected to drop weekend plans to support clients. Employers these days are asking way too much of new hires for far too little money. An extra 10k a year isn't worth signing away all my free time.
I emailed them back and told them that 45 a week is more than I'm looking to commit to an employer and that I couldn't accept the position. Life isn't all about work and asking for so much of my time is insulting.
Edit: They also told me during the interview that they weren't “clock watchers” and that it was expected people would stay late if there was still work to do. Well I'm a proud clock watcher! My time is valuable and is worth a lot more to me than any amount of work ethic or loyalty.