Overworked junior specialist realizes his ‘above and beyond’ work mentality won't get him anywhere so he stops, managers are now drowning in work: 'It's truly satisfying to see'

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Dec 15, 2025 9:00 AM EST

Working "above and beyond" doesn't work, it's a harsh reality that everyone one day must understand. Unfortunately, if you show you place of employment that you are happy to be paid the same amount for more work, then they will just keep paying you that same amount. Now, if you get more money along with that above and beyond workload, then that's fine. But this employee, wasn't given more money or a promotion, even though he deserved it. He worked "above and beyond" every single day. He would take on a lot of the managers' duties just so he could be seen as a good employee, which he was. But he was too good and not fighting for higher pay. 

 

After he got passed up for a promotion and then given mandatory overtime, he said enough was enough. He was basically doing all of the work of his managers and not getting and kind of recognition for it. So, he stopped. He simply stopped going above and beyond and just started doing exactly what his job description said and nothing else. Low and behold, it turns out that the managers hardly even know how to do their own jobs… We all need to work our wage. 

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  • "My Managers Are Drowning in Work After I Stopped Doing All Non-Essential Tasks"

    man wearing glasses types on a laptop at a desk at work
    via Unsplash+ (and Vitaly Gariev)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 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.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • While these activities are certainly related to our team's work, they are not part of our core responsibilities, meaning it's optional for someone to take them on.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • 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 taking on these additional tasks.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • 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 didn't get the position due to limited spots, but it still felt good to be nominated).
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • Then, about a month ago, they suddenly announced mandatory overtime hours for the coming months, citing increased workload.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • But honestly, it's poor planning from leadership and a lack of staff that's causing this chaos.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • I was extremely 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 martial_snarky-7a
  • They are really struggling to keep up. Historically, they barely touched these tasks because I and a few other colleagues always handled them.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • person using multiple laptop computers for their tech job
    via Unsplash+ (and freestock)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • But now that I've withdrawn myself (and a few others who were helping have also withdrawn), they are completely swamped and dedicating most of their day to these things.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • It's truly satisfying to see this, and I doubt I'll volunteer to carry the entire department's burden again like I used to.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • Honestly, they can manage themselves. Edit: Sure, I can demonstrate that I'm able to go above and beyond.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • But if I keep doing that all the time, I just end up becoming too valuable to promote because they're basically getting 3- 10 workers for the price of one.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • I don't want to continue in this work environment, so I will start by updating my resume and applying for interviews.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • I know that the job search and interview phase has become easier because of Al programs that contribute to faster steps.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • It's really not cool that I was considered and then passed up when I've been doing all their work without complaining.
    via martial_snarky-7a
  • Saying "I'm just happy to be considered" is basically placating them and that's not my job.
    via martial_snarky-7a

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management employee manager overworked-employees workplace Tech overtime above and beyond
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