Julie Bowditch is the executive director for nonprofit The CASA Project Worcester County.
Updated: February 20, 2023
Guest Column
Hustle culture vs. The Great Resignation
By Julie Bowditch
Hustle culture is a term describing continual burnout as a lifestyle, or a career dominating your life. Overworking was popularized after the Great Recession of 2008 to compensate for economic struggles. Monster.com reports today many salaried employees work more than 45 hours a week at their full-time jobs and 25% of Americans have a side gig. This can result in chronic stress, burnout, exhaustion, and even depression and can take a toll on your personal relationships. Busy seasons, project deadlines, coverage for colleagues, and other factors in the workplace might require more time and energy on occasion, but it is not healthy as a habit.
Conversely, what is known as The Great Resignation began in early 2021 and applies to a mass and deliberate departure of employees from jobs. The Washington Post reported 4.1 million workers quit in September 2022. For some, this change has meant upgrading their positions or a career pivot. For others, it might mean launching a new endeavor or taking some intentional time to reevaluate. However, industries are responding to this mass exodus by restructuring and redirecting resources, leaving a large group still unemployed. Some workers have discovered the grass is not greener on the other side of their professional leap of faith. Meanwhile, workers who did not follow suit are exhausted from filling the gaps.
Selling our souls to corporate America and letting our professional lives dictate our time is not the answer. It is unreasonable to expect millions of capable adults not earn an income or contribute to the collective workforce. We must find a middle ground that might not have a catchy or trending name but will undoubtedly create more balance and holistic fulfillment for us all.
If the hustle culture definition resonates with you, it might be worth reflecting on your incentives. Are you overworking by choice or out of necessity? Are your professional achievements filling a void outside of work? Perhaps you are living outside of your means and struggling to pay for a lifestyle you cannot afford. When putting in disproportionate time and energy at work becomes a pattern or part of your identity, it is cause for reevaluation.
Caffeine-riddled and capitalist-fueled boasts about regularly working excessive or off-shift hours are disconcerting. There is no shame in striving toward a goal or building your business or brand, just be sure you are doing it strategically rather than frenetically spinning your wheels. If you find you are struggling to satisfy an unrealistic workload, it is time to schedule a conversation with your supervisor. You cannot consistently perform at a high level when you aren’t being provided the support to succeed and taking time to recharge.
On the other hand, if you find you identify heavily with the more popularized notions around doing the bare minimum or counting down the moments until you clock out, consider the motivation behind these quiet quitting feelings. Perhaps you have experienced unrealistic expectations, imbalance, or even discrimination or harassment in the workplace. Maybe you are suffering from impostor syndrome and don’t believe you are capable. Ask a trusted friend, colleague, or mentor for their candid advice to help provide some perspective to your situation.
Not facing these or other issues and perceptions and proceeding with resentment will inevitably create barriers in your career path. Apathy does not take organizations to the next level. This mindset causes hesitancy for those positioned to hire, promote, or recommend you. It can make it difficult to see, not to mention invest, in your potential. While you’re so busy sticking it to the man, you just might end up sticking it to yourself.
A healthy measure of personal resources invested into a career can look different for each person. Factors impacting this are health and personal demands, including those of a parent or caregiver. It’s important to acknowledge the privilege represented in the opportunity to pause or decrease work commitments in response to needs of an individual’s mind, body, and family. This is not an option for everyone.
As we continue to adjust to a COVID-impacted world, it is time to redefine what we can do to make workplaces accessible and roles sustainable. Prioritizing physical and mental health is necessary. A decidedly nontoxic work culture, flexibility (within reason for the role), having a supportive manager and team, and the ability to enjoy your personal life are vital. With enough employees to share the workload and each person carrying their respective weight, the result is an equitable and viable work environment. Fair living wages and competitive benefits are other nonnegotiable ingredients in this recipe for success.
If the description above is not relatable in your current situation, it may be time to either renegotiate with your current employer, launch a job search, or explore a career change. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and compensated relative to their effort and productivity. You don’t need to decide between your personal life and professional life. You just need to define what your priorities are.
An organization that recognizes, appreciates, and rewards the work of its team should be the norm. If you and your employer have agreed upon what you will fairly contribute to one another, uphold your end of that arrangement with integrity and expect the same from them. Utilize your benefit package, take time off as needed without guilt or excessive explanation, and be proactive about communicating what you require to be successful.
People still want to make an impact through their work and are ambitious. Plenty of individuals still appreciate the stability and autonomy often associated with being gainfully employed. While your career should not overtake other endeavors and interests, it is realistic to expect employees to deliver in a position they voluntarily accepted, completing an agreed upon number of hours for a mutually determined salary. Don’t be afraid to set boundaries and take a break when you need to, but also don’t be afraid to work hard.
It’s still admirable to do your best. It’s exciting to learn new things and challenge yourself, and it can be empowering to contribute to something bigger than yourself. If you work for the right people, places, and reasons, you can find genuine pride and fulfillment in your endeavors.
Julie Bowditch is the executive director for nonprofit The CASA Project Worcester County.
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