20 people explain why they would never go 'above and beyond' at their workplace

Indeed, our society often applauds the relentless pursuit of productivity. It values individuals who consistently go beyond the call of duty in their professional lives. Although there can be certain advantages to surpassing expectations in the workplace, it is important to recognize that there are valid reasons why people may opt out of such behavior or may not be obliged to engage in it.

These reasons range from the need to prioritize personal interests and maintain a healthy work-life balance to having well-defined job responsibilities. There are numerous motivations for individuals to avoid excessive workloads. It is crucial to understand that pushing oneself to the limit without sufficient rest and self-care can have detrimental effects, including reduced job satisfaction, compromised performance, and potential long-term health consequences. This discussion also took place on Reddit when a user, u/GlumWillow8816, asked, "Why should we have to go "above and beyond?" Here are the 20 most interesting responses from the post:

1. 

Some 35 years ago I had a friend that was a truck parts salesman. He believed that he couldn't take PTO time in the summer or at the end of the year because bus companies were performing maintenance on school buses. One year he did take time off between Christmas and New Years Day. His company laid him off and never called him back to work. That's when I learned that nobody is irreplaceable. -u/Pete65J

2.

My problem is that employers get used to above and beyond. I had one of my bosses straight up say to me that I didn’t seem like I cared as much or worked as hard after being there for two years. Like well yea lol I saw that my efforts weren’t going be compensated and I still was not trusted by my boss! Why would I keep trying when being treated that way? - u/level 4Zealousideal-Feed156

3.

I remember making my company net new $50M in revenue and an additional $10M in profits on a project where others had failed. Literally, three teams of PhDs attempted to make this work and all had failed. I made it work. -u/marzipan-emperor

4. 

I’m self employed but just reading this makes me really angry. I think I’d rather die than have a real job again. -u/LukeMayeshothand

5. 

I worked on a large bid without input from the sales guy. We won and he got a $30,000 commission and he gave me a $100 gift card. That changed me. -u/AFlair67

6. 

I think they grew up in an environment where going above and beyond was cherished because it had a history of being rewarded. Nowadays you get a PhD you end up in Walmart or something. They expect amindset for which there is no reward anymore, that's what they are missing. -u/aegeanrain

7. 

We shouldn't. Simply put. If someone pays for one banana, they aren't entitled to two. -u/level 1No_Step_4431

8.

My boss has meetings with us periodically about how we all need to strive for excellence....we all make minimum wage, no one ever gets raises no matter how long they've been there. It's disgusting. I'm looking for something else right now but I have past felonies that are getting in my way:/ ugh -u/Ok_Package3859

9. 

I work at a fortune 50 company you've heard of. We have a bell curve for ratings. I have been told in the past that I didn't get the high rating despite being the best worker because "it wasn't my turn".
This kind of nonsense is evil. -u/VrinTheTerrible

10. 

The people who want you to go above and beyond want to exploit you more than they already are period. u/Igs64

11. 

It's a perverse ethic. Go above and beyond once --- and then that becomes the expected level of performance. Don't maintain that level and you get put on notice of poor performance. Maintain that level and well, you don't deserve a raise because you're performance isn't improving. -u/mrarming

12.

I now do the absolute bare minimum and laugh when someone tries to get me to do more work. Tell the managers "I'm not above anyone else so why do you expect more from me?" F**k late capitalist society. -u/Injurysavings2995

13. 

Gen X here. Don't go above and beyond, you will get nothing for it except more work. Ever notice how the people at work that don't do s**t get to keep not doing s**t for years and have zero expectations of them from management yet still get paid? That might as well be tou too. Also, take every one of your sick days. -u/level 1AlanStanwick1986

14. 

If you want career minded people, pay career wages and give career increases. u/ WrongAssumption2480

15.

The problem is that employers still want you to have the mindset from 50 years ago when employers were taken care of as a reward for going above and beyond and for loyalty.- u/drakthoran

16. 

The one and only reason you should "go above and beyond" is to learn new (or refining current) skills. Those new/improved skills will add more to your resume, so once your couple years are done and you move on to the next job, you have that much leverage in better pay negotiations. If you have in demand skills, you will always have the upper hand. -u/GangstaVillian420

17.

OMG! I just realized why companies hire young inexperienced people instead of older seasoned workers... they still believe in the fantasy of working "above and beyond"! Holy crap!
(Why the hell does it take me decades to figure out these life lessons?) -u/marvisands

18. 

When I was in my 20s I went above and beyond. As I’ve gotten older, I realized above and beyond gets me absolutely nothing. I do my job, and nothing more. I will never do more than what I was hired to do. -u/kifs_sigh

19. 

Last year, a VP at my job was retiring. He attended a department staff meeting a few months before he retired. In his speech about his time working in the company, he said that he probably spent more time with his coworkers than his own family. It's definitely not anything I'd aspire to do. -u/CatsAllDayErDay

20.

If not going beyond your agreed-upon job description is "quiet quitting", then is not paying more than the agreed-upon paycheck "quiet stiffing"? -u/cthulhusintern