I always say never work too hard. Managers don't know how long things take because they don't do any actual work. Set expectations accordingly.
complete task early, turn in results in the last day. never give them reason to up your workload
Around bonus time log lots of extra hours and turn in two products on the last day.
This is the way.
It's a pretty damn sad thing having to do it if you're a fair and honest person, but that's just how the world works.
(There are a few managers out there whom you can be honest towards without them taking away your reward for being efficient of going the extra mile, but in my personal experience those are pretty rare).
I've pretty consistently seen the 1st level of management able to understand when you worked hard, and that it is not repeatable. Those problems tend to appear only when they report up what is happening.
What is to say that often (not always), you can be honest with your manager if both of you can keep a secret.
They are members of the cult of the line, and the line must go up.
Not just members, advocates of the line. Their compensation is a function of the surplus value workers create.
The reward for hard work is more work
That's why you always give 80% at work - so when shit hits the fan you can do 120%, impressing everyone while keeping a chill level of tasks for day to day stuff
Fresh college grads hate this advice but it's really key to managing a long term career.
Which shows management that they can throw anything at you ..... so they start throwing everything at you.
The Montgomery Scott model of productivity.
Nah when shit hits the fan you do 81% never show your full potential until you reach the highest pay grade in the company. And the reality is you will never reach that pay grade, you will more likely switch jobs and go back to 80% input and cash bigger checks.
Worked well for me so far - 5 consecutive years with a >10% raise...
Give 95% and point out that you lack resources.
They'll never give you those resources, but they will get off your ass because subpar work seems to be the goal.
I'm a god damn janitor and this is true even for my profession.
Oh fuck did the US come full circle and go full Stakhanovite? Back under communism in Eastern Europe, you'd do 105% of the target so you'd hit the bonus but not the target readjustment.
Your version looks worse.
Exactly why you never give 100%. Never show them everything you got cause they'll only want more
Our annual evaluation is a scale of 1 to 4 for a variety of categories. We're supposed to show growth on the scales each year.
For 15 years, I've started each year at 3 and grown to a 4 so the boss can tell their boss that they're helping us grow. I could just start at a 4, but I wouldhave to provide justification for each 4 and that's not a good use of my time. Which I guess I could use to justify getting a 4 on time management.
Yep new boss comes along and has to find some things "wrong" with you so the next review after shows growth under their management which makes them look good. Not great for you because every other place asks for your last 3 reviews so now you have to justify some middle management bullshit in order to go anywhere else. Very fun.
It is a lesson I hope you only have to learn once.
My work has been experimenting with a project for about 2 years now and this has been my life since then
Good to know, I have halved my output to keep up with your expectations.
you jest but this is the reality.
Two years ago I was working 12-16 hours a day. Got burned out.
The stress isn't worth it.
I was constantly passed over for promotions because I was impossible to replace.
now I put out 1/3 of the effort. that means tasks that took me one hour now take me 4 hours, one day is three days.
I get done with my work and watch anime for 2/3 of my job now.
I make $40k less than I should, and I just heard they're taking away some of my yearly accrued vacation time (well everybody is impacted by this, not just me).
The people aren't all bad and the work is paid, so I guess I can pass some bullshit off and catch up on Black Clover.
Some call it "quiet quitting". I call it financial accruity financial optimization or fafo in short.
This is why you under promise and barely deliver.
Ah, good ole performance punishment.
Good work is rewarded with more work.
If you increase my workload but don't give me a raise, I quit. Immediately.
With year end reviews coming up.... This hits hard
"Wouldn't make your initial targets an example of your poor judgement?"
If targets are just nonsensical things then they're pointless and should be ignored. The comic illustrates very poor management.
The Mill (2023)
