There is tremendous pressure to put extra time in even when there is no need for it.

Ive just finished a job where leaving the office at around 8-9pm is considered the norm and although not stated, considered as 'letting the team down' if you didn't match the hours.

Fact: If the project has been promised earlier than is actually possible then its not your screw-up. But it is your job and livelihood so what do we do?

The few extra hours here and there I dont mind but my family comes first, no exception. Ive seen too many relationships come to grief because of some misguided idea of what professionalism is all about.

If I go to a supermarket for a kilo of apple then that is what I expect: A kilo of apples, no more and no less. Why do employers expect and extra pound of flesh on a regular basis?

I had one boss that used to come around the office at 5:05 each day. If you were still there then he wanted to know why. His reasoning: 'If you get run over by a bus then I dont want to find myself having to hire two people to replace you. I make my time estimates based on what I know you can do.' Curiously, that team consistently worked hard.

There is a big difference between 'employee' and 'owned'. Since the word 'resource' ousted what dignity employees had, Ive seen a lot more 'time-abuse'.