Things Companies Over-Expect from Employees

In today’s workplace, companies often place unrealistic demands on their employees, leading to burnout and dissatisfaction. Here's a breakdown of common ways in which companies over-expect from their workforce:

1. Excessive Loyalty

• Companies often expect employees to remain indefinitely, overlooking their personal and professional goals. Loyalty is important, but it’s unrealistic to expect employees to stay if they have better career opportunities elsewhere.
• Just as companies can lay off employees when needed, employees can (and should) also switch to other companies for career advancement.

2. Round-the-Clock Availability

• Some companies expect employees to be constantly available, even outside regular working hours. This is common in industries like tech and consulting, where late-night emails or weekend work can become the norm.

3. Lower Salaries

• Some companies offer salaries below market value, assuming employees will accept less due to job security or loyalty. Competent workers know their worth, especially in specialized roles like software development or engineering.
• Offering below-average compensation leads to employee demotivation and high turnover as they seek fair pay elsewhere.

4. Excessive Workload

• In an effort to save costs or increase efficiency, companies may assign employees overwhelming workloads. This is common in healthcare and finance, where workers handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Companies need to balance workloads to protect long-term productivity and employee well-being.
• Read: Dedication vs Survival: Lessons from Anna's Story

5. Unrealistic Productivity Goals

• Setting overly ambitious goals can drive employees, but expecting them to hit unrealistic targets leads to frustration. This is common in fast-paced industries like sales and tech startups, where aggressive targets are set to keep up with market demands.
• Employees feel demotivated when faced with unattainable goals, leading to stress and a drop in performance. Goals should be challenging but achievable, ensuring employees remain motivated without risking burnout.

6. No Leaves

• Companies sometimes pressure employees to forgo their vacation time, particularly during peak seasons. Vacation is essential for employees to recharge and improve productivity. Limiting vacation time can lead to long-term exhaustion and reduced efficiency.

7. Excessive Overtime

• Expecting employees to regularly work beyond contracted hours is common in industries like law, finance, and tech. Occasional overtime is understandable, but constant long hours without proper compensation or time off lead to employee fatigue.
• Employers should compensate overtime fairly, whether through pay or additional time off, to maintain a healthy workforce.

8. Rigid Adherence to Company Culture

• While company culture is important, expecting employees to strictly conform can be problematic. Some organizations insist on a rigid culture that may conflict with employees’ personal values or beliefs.
• Forcing employees to fit into a specific mold can alienate them and lower morale. A healthy company culture should be inclusive, flexible, and allow for individuality while fostering collaboration.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

• Many over-expectations are not only unreasonable but also illegal or unethical. For example, Denying vacation time, not compensating overtime, or expecting constant availability may violate labor laws.
• Companies must align their expectations with legal requirements to avoid potential lawsuits and regulatory issues.