'I haven't seen sunlight the past 11 months': Boss demands software engineer work from 9:30 AM 'until the work is done' every day

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Mar 21, 2026 8:00 AM EDT

There is no set' end time' for the workday, and it's making his employees downright batty. 

Have you ever worked somewhere where your boss wants you to stay 'until the work is finished?' On my very first day at a restaurant, I asked the manager if I could leave at 9:45 because that was the listed end time on the schedule. He responded, "It's a good thing you didn't ask that in front of the boss." I had no idea that, in that environment, I was supposed to work until we had fully finished closing the restaurant, and it didn't matter exactly when the end time was listed on the schedule. It would've been nice if the schedule had better reflected the reality of the expectations, but it's normal in that industry for employees to stay until all of the work of closing is done. 

Expecting employees to stay until all of the work is done is more asinine in white-collar industries. Most white-collar employees have weeks or months where there is a ton of work to be done for a specific purpose, so they're expected to stay late until all of the work is completed. But having those expectations every week of the year is a surefire way to burn out your employees. If you demand that your employees do more work than can be reasonably accomplished in an 8-hour workday every day, they aren't going to be able to stay at your company long term.

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  • Young stylish businessman works alone in the office at nightime
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Software engineer works until the work is done, long into the night

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

  • My CEO expects me to work from 9:30 AM until "the work is done" every single day. How do I set boundaries without risking my job?

    I will be really thankful. I am a Software Engineer currently working from home. My CEO expects me to be online from 9:30 AM until every single task assigned for the day is complete, regardless of how long it takes.
    via u/Future-Tax7729
  • There is no "log- off" time. If the work isn't done, I'm expected to stay. There is no another day, Daily works like deployment on prod.
    via u/Future-Tax7729
  • He doesn't seem to understand that even though I'm WFH, I have personal and family commitments after standard working hours.
    via u/Future-Tax7729
  • Portrait of family having fun in the living room
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    A family spending quality time with each other, presumably after work hours.

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

  • I feel like I'm burning out and the pressure is becoming unsustainable. How do I communicate my "end of day" clearly?
    via u/Future-Tax7729
  • Should I look for a new role, or is this just 'startup culture'? (I am. finding new but at just 2 year experience it is currently difficult in market and Until I am not getting new Job I daily think about my self.
    via u/Future-Tax7729
  • I don't know what is day, How sunlight look like from last 11 months) Has anyone dealt with a founder who has zero concept of work-life balance?
    via u/Future-Tax7729
  • Green leafy trees illuminated by suns rays
    via Darren Bockman

    Rays of sunlight peeking through trees. This software engineer hasn't seen this in real life in nearly a year. 

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

  • ShadowGLI It's not startup culture, it's exploitation and the work is NEVER done. Unless you get profit sharing or company stake, the sooner you set boundaries the better. Not saying going above and beyond can't be beneficial, but lots of trust fund tech bros who started companies on daddies dime tend to have this mentality because they're raking in a salary despite their company running in the red. Tell your direct supervisor that if the assigns tasks you can resolve x, ask which one should car
    via u/ShadowGLI
  • Future-Tax7729 Original Poster's Reply No over time no bonus or no paid time leave in place of extended hours I get. Connecting to labour attorney can make job in danger. I am full time employee not getting payment for hourly basis.
    via u/Future-Tax7729
  • RoseDrift_ That's true thou. But I believe all this rules would have been presented before starting the job.
    via u/RoseDrift_
  • Future-Tax7729 Original Poster's Reply When I left my previous job and came here then got to know these toxic work culture. It was already late because I had no option then.
    via u/Future-Tax7729
  • Tommyknocker77 Do you have equity or ownership? If not, set your limits.
    via u/Tommyknocker77
  • Future-Tax7729 Original Poster's Reply I have only job
    via u/Future-Tax7729
  • Damoksta It's time to find a new job. If it's a startup, your CEO's interest is in ballooning the value of the company in the shortest time possible, get bought out by someone or scale, and line the pockets of shareholders + himself. It sounds like you are already getting milked, and if you say no... unless you have something he needs, he'll just find the next sucker.
    via u/Damoksta
  • SolaninePotato Use Al to do the work, skimp on quality. Start looking for another job
    via u/SolaninePotato

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schedule salary boss work from home startup work engineering software ceo sunlight
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