topic Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It in Community Chat

Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

Ellis Dee — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 02:51:17 GMT

PEOPLE DON'T CARE IF YOU GO ABOVE AND BEYOND WHAT YOU PROMISED, SAY RESEARCHERS

For those of you putting in 110%, taking one for the team, going above and beyond the call, or any other cliche related to hard work: Just stop it right now, because research suggests that nobody really cares. Sure, people notice and tsk accordingly when you don't do what you said you were going to, but as UC San Diego behavioral sciences prof Ayelet Gneezy finds, exceeding your promise "does not appear to be worth the effort." Or, a sBusiness Week puts it, "Nobody cares how awesome you are at your job."

Specifically, says Gneezy, "promise receivers consistently failed to recognize the additional effort required to exceed a promise." Think of it this way: If you promise to get something done in three days, people will be ticked if it takes four, but they won't care much if you get it done in two. Now exceeding expectations is a wildly different beast. That is, if you make no such promise about when something will get done but surpass the other person's hopes, they'll be absolutely thrilled. But as for promises,Time notes that "just keeping your word is good enough, (so) focus on that."

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

Irshgrl31201 — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 03:13:35 GMT

Sorry, I do not believe this at all. I see people put in the extra effort almost every day of the week and it absolutely is appreciated. Both in professional and personal settings. I can think of 2 people who within the last 3 weeks both get promotions that should have gone to other people JUST because they consistently put in the extra effort. One was even told that he should have lost out to 6 other people who also applied for the position, who had been with the company much longer and had much more experience in that particular area of expertise. He beat each of these 6 other people despite being disadvantaged by not being employed at this particular job as long and not even being in that field of work as long. The other applicants each had at least 3 more years working in that field. He also doesn't have the specific degree pertaining to the position he applied for (which every other applicant did) and after 3 rounds of interviews he won out and was directly told it was precisely because he puts in the extra effort.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

Buck-i-Nana — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 03:14:34 GMT

Most people who go above and beyond don't do it for the recognition, they do it because it's what they expect of themselves.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

Ellis Dee — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 03:16:16 GMT

My experience is the more you give the more they expect while others are skirting by doing the least possible and still making the same amount. Why bother?

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

Irshgrl31201 — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 03:37:18 GMT

On 6/4/2014 Buck-i-Nana said:
Most people who go above and beyond don't do it for the recognition, they do it because it's what they expect of themselves.

I totally agree with you Buck-i-Nana. Both of the people I mentioned are just self starters and would do it if no one was even watching. It is just "in" them. I don't like to cut corners either not because of anyone else, but because I know.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

ROMARY — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 03:53:06 GMT

And then there sometimes are the jealous co-workers..........but, that's another story.......

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

evelomaddict — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 03:58:28 GMT

i own my own business and my goal is to always exceed my customers expectations.

i'm not always successful but i never allow myself to become rude or indifferent since many of those who seemed the most unhappy will turnaround and recommend my services to others.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

minkbunny — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 04:03:07 GMT

I often work very hard (depending on the case load) and it is always, always appreciated. My boss is so funny, yesterday she said - Oh my goodness, you shredded all those documents. God Bless You Of course, that was the easiest thing I did all day.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

madzonie — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 04:05:19 GMT

I sometimes wonder when we work "extra" hard, put in more and longer hours, earn more money, deprive ourselves of time with family, friends and even our own selves, will we regret one day that we made those choices?

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

Irshgrl31201 — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 04:32:23 GMT

On 6/4/2014 madzonie said:
I sometimes wonder when we work "extra" hard, put in more and longer hours, earn more money, deprive ourselves of time with family, friends and even our own selves, will we regret one day that we made those choices?

Well, I think we need a good balance. I didn't always have that. I used to work way too much. I know I am not going to lie in my deathbed wishing I had spent more time at work. I have a good balance now.

When I am at work though, I put everything I have into it. I mean, I am there already so I might as well while I am there. LOL! Then when I am at home, I am at home.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

151949 — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 04:45:03 GMT

My working experience was that hard work was recognized but higher education was rewarded. Toward the final years of my career it seemed that no matter how hard anyone tried the "extra effort" was just expected, and no one recognized it at all. I'm glad i'm out of the workforce.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

151949 — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 04:50:02 GMT

On 6/4/2014 madzonie said:
I sometimes wonder when we work "extra" hard, put in more and longer hours, earn more money, deprive ourselves of time with family, friends and even our own selves, will we regret one day that we made those choices?

I had a job where i had to work shifts, weekend and holidays and be on call so i , at least a few times a year, work 24 hour shifts. Once during a blizzard I had to work from 7pm on friday until 9 AM monday. I do regret my career choice because of the toll it took on my personal life. if i had it to do again I would be a physical therapist or a speech therapist I think, instead of a nurse.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

SAVANAHGIRL — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 10:52:43 GMT

I always gave the extra just because I liked challenging myself. Was I recognized for it? Not on a personal basis such as a plaque or even a personal comment, but I did get merit increases in pay. Good enough for me.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

qualitygal — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 11:08:08 GMT

I didn't read that far into this, since I disagree. I always gave as much as I could and I think our work ethic needs people who work this hard. I believe if you want to succeed and be true to yourself, you work as hard as you can. You do it for you!!

add like Sunnybrook, I got a raise in pay too. I believe you will be rewarded.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

Preds — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 11:13:39 GMT

I do it because that is just who I am. It makes me proud of me. If others notice, then that is a plus. My DD has always accused me of being a workaholic and I see her doing the same thing now. It's just how we roll.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

evelomaddict — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 11:17:57 GMT

On 6/5/2014 Preds said:
I do it because that is just who I am. It makes me proud of me. If others notice, then that is a plus. My DD has always accused me of being a workaholic and I see her doing the same thing now. It's just how we roll.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

reiki604 — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 11:55:38 GMT

I used to believe it until my current job. This is the last week for 1000 healthcare professionals that were let go due to their positions being eliminated for education trumping experience and work ethic. This is the second time this year this has happened with all the upper management staying secure with their high six figure salaries. I expect to be gone in the next round as there is no one left to cut. Many highly motivated people who always went above and beyond had the rug pulled out from under them while big bucks are being spent to redecorate the corporate offices.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

Isobelle — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 12:05:46 GMT

On 6/4/2014 madzonie said:
I sometimes wonder when we work "extra" hard, put in more and longer hours, earn more money, deprive ourselves of time with family, friends and even our own selves, will we regret one day that we made those choices?

I don't think any one of us will lay on our death beds regretting that we didn't work more. No, on the contrary our biggest regrets will relate to not spending more time with friends and family no doubt.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

Pook — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 12:06:10 GMT

I do it for me - not for recognition. It's about work ethic. I would consider myself a slacker if I gave anything less than more than 100%. that's how I was raised and it causes me to feel good about myself. Even though many many times there was no recognition at all for my efforts and because I wasn't the "yes" person the management wanted, I was proud of my work and that of my unit and no one could ever say my work and the work of my unit was not way above what the others were producing and that was reward enough for me. In my opinion those who do it for recognition and when they don't get it stop are just fake and not naturally conscientious workers. At least that is what I have observed in all my years supervising others.

Re: Working Extra Hard Isn't Worth It

sgraham30 — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 13:46:30 GMT

On 6/4/2014 Ellis Dee said:
My experience is the more you give the more they expect while others are skirting by doing the least possible and still making the same amount. Why bother?

I agree. When I worked, I did temp jobs. The client where I was temping would dangle the carrot of hiring me after X amount of months if I did well or exceeded what was expected of the job. When the time came & no job offer materialized, I'd ask why & be told "oh, that's no longer in the budget." This happened 3 times. I finally got to the point where I decided that I was going to do only what was expected of me since excelling never even got a "thank you" or "great job."