'My managers are drowning in work after I stopped doing all non-essential tasks': Overworked employee gets even with managers who refused to promote them

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Dec 9, 2025 5:00 PM EST

When pushed to the brink, employees start "quiet quitting," and if things don't improve, they might actually quit!

Quiet quitting has become quite the phenomenon in recent years, and it's not hard to see why. It's harder than ever to get a job, so leaving just because you're unhappy can take years. It may take you hundreds of applications and dozens of interviews before you finally get an offer that appeals to you. In the meantime, you might keep showing up to your old job… but you're not bringing your A game. You're bringing like your C- game, perhaps. You're caring about the tasks that keep you employed, but at 5:00 PM on the dot, you're putting on your coat and walking out that door. A lot of employees share that the moment they knew they were beginning to quiet quit was when they silently brought home all of their personal belongings, leaving just a plain desk. Although that's a fairly obvious sign for anyone in leadership, these bosses pushed their worker even further than that by leading them on with promises of a promotion. Unfortunately, by "promotion," they actually meant "mandatory overtime for several months, and no promotions at all."

This person acted their wage, and I applaud them for it. Life is too short to be worried about $250k/year problems when you're making $75k/year. Let your managers fret over these things! And according to this person, their managers certainly are fretting — they're lost without this person giving 200% effort every day. To avoid burnout, and to impress your bosses at the same time, try to give like 80% on a day-to-day basis. Then, when times get busy, you can give 100% without expending too much extra energy. 

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    Woman in striped shirt sits among large piles of papers, resting face in palm, looking at laptop with stressed expression
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+
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    I am a junior specialist in a team of about 28 people. Our team receives many requests from different internal teams for support or specific project tasks. While these activities are certainly related to our team's work, they are not part of our core
    via u/martial_snarky-7a
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    responsibilities, meaning it's optional for someone to take them on. If no one takes them, the leadership team (managers) has to manage them. Over the past 18 months, I consistently went above and beyond, regularly
    via u/martial_snarky-7a
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    taking on these additional tasks. I was almost the only one on my team doing so. Management frequently thanked me for this, and it even led to an opportunity for a higher position some time ago (I
    via u/martial_snarky-7a
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    didn't get the position due to limited spots, but it still felt good to be nominated).
    via u/martial_snarky-7a
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    Then, about a month ago, they suddenly announced mandatory overtime hours for the coming months, citing increased workload. But honestly, it's poor planning from leadership and a lack of staff that's causing this chaos. I was extremely
    via u/martial_snarky-7a
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    stressed, so I decided to stop helping with these additional tasks entirely. I truly hadn't realized how much I was doing, because now the leadership team (managers) is completely overwhelmed by them.
    via u/martial_snarky-7a
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    They are really struggling to keep up. Historically, they barely touched these tasks because I and a few other colleagues always handled them. But now that I've withdrawn myself (and a few others who were helping have
    via u/martial_snarky-7a
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    also withdrawn), they are completely swamped and dedicating most of their day to these things. It's truly satisfying to see this, and I doubt I'll volunteer to carry the entire department's burden again like I used
    via u/martial_snarky-7a
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    to. Honestly, they can manage themselves.
    via u/martial_snarky-7a
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    People were thrilled for this worker!

    voids-an... That's lovely! Well done! Maybe they'll wake up and recognize your value of one of these days.
    via u/voids-anode4s

    The less work they do, the better they'll feel. Rest is good for humans, and no one ever wishes they'd spent more of their one precious life working. 

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    BellaTrix4... Simply amazing. Well done!
    via u/BellaTrix4Change
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    Varnigma You were nominated for the advancement but honestly you were never going to get it. You do to much in your current role. Sadly you made yourself "unreplaceable".
    via u/Varnigma
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    Zoreb1 At least you know that they'll be doing work related stuff on their overtime.
    via u/Zoreb1

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quiet quitting bosses managers overworked-employees workplace
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