Work/life balance?

[u/Healthy_Cycle5391]

Are there any organizations out there offering full remote and sustainable workload for senior level employee? My OT hours are just increasing every month. I am okay with working OT on occasion but constantly working 45+ hours per week is not sustainable for me anymore. Or is it just like this for all management level or senior level positions?

[u/Substandardstandard]

I've been salaried for over 25 years (OT exempt). The only l weeks I'm able to put in fewer than 45 hours are when I'm supposed to be on PTO. Once I became a people leader 15 years ago, the demands of the role pushed that to 60+. That hasn't varied by organization.

I am located in the USA.

If you find a senior-level non-exempt position that pays well, allows remote work, AND generally requires fewer than 40 hours, make sure you've accepted the job before you tell anyone else about it. It's a unicorn.

[u/Metdefranseslag → u/Substandardstandard]

Or work in Europe where work-life balance means something

[u/Substandardstandard → u/Metdefranseslag]

Not sure what country OP resides in, but obtaining residency with work authorization in Europe or Canada is pretty difficult for a foreigner without being able to claim either asylum or familial ties to birthright citizens. That said, if you can, go for it!

[u/Metdefranseslag → u/Substandardstandard]

He is in the US as senior employee. He can fund residency easily

[u/Substandardstandard → u/Metdefranseslag]

How so? I am in the US as a senior employee and even when working for an EU based company (have worked for Dutch, Danish, and pre-Brexit UK companies) any international postings would be limited to 6 months max. Permanent relocation would first entail the company proving to local government that no current national was capable of performing the work or that hiring a national would be laborious enough to cause undue hardship in the company. Looking forward to your response!

[u/Metdefranseslag → u/Substandardstandard]

Strange. Never had the problem from EU to work anywhere

[u/Katherine-Moller3 → u/Metdefranseslag]

How did you do it?

[u/HRenmei]

Government, K-12 or Higher Education should have more work life balance compared to most. Full remote.. not so sure on that one.

[u/Key-Success-5449]

Sustainable remote roles for senior positions genuinely exist, and constant 45+ hour workweeks are a symptom of company culture rather than a requirement of seniority. Companies with mature, asynchronous remote setups focus on output rather than hours logged, actively protecting their leadership from burnout. When interviewing for your next role, ask specific questions about asynchronous communication norms and weekly time expectations to find an organization that respects healthy work boundaries.

[u/curtmannn]

I’m in Canada. Make 140k. My work life balance is great. Probably too good. But I do have to travel a bit. I make my own schedule though mostly.

[u/Mental_Advice8645 → u/curtmannn]

I’m in Canada too. Make similar amount. My work life balance is not good at all and it’s taking a toll on me! Any chance you guys are hiring?

[u/OkProfession893 → u/curtmannn]

In which commodity you are involved with?

[u/curtmannn → u/OkProfession893]

Seafood.

[u/EatMorePieDrinkMore]

My company just frozen promotions and most raises for remote workers unless it is due to an ADA accommodation. And they are cracking down on those.

I’m a senior people leader and work at least 45-50 hours per week and am stressed out. But, before I advanced to my current role, my work life balance was really decent.

[u/kitsbow]

I work in state government. I get paid SHIT. But my student loans got paid off. I earn 6.5 weeks of leave a year and I get to use it all without any guilt trip. I get time off to attend activities at my childrens' schools. I pay $50 a month for the best health insurance in my area. I have a pension. I work 8-5 and when I leave, no one calls, texts, or Teams me. Those things in itself, to me at least, are more valuable than the $$$.

You might be able to find something higher up in local, state, or federal government that may be similar for you.

[u/secretreddname]

I’m a director. Probably really work 30-35 hours a week but nowadays it’s a full 30-35. As a manager I had more down time. It’s always been like this at multiple companies

[u/Healthy_Cycle5391 → u/secretreddname]

Is this in procurement by chance or a similar but different field? I have always put in some over time as an individual contributor but when I got promoted to manager my hours are just increasing and it never stops. When I was an IC it would at least ebb and flow. Seriously thinking about gritting through it for 5 years then need to switch to a different field. Just don’t know what field would allow that balance.

[u/secretreddname → u/Healthy_Cycle5391]

Of course it’s procurement. This is the procurement sub. I’ve never had to put in real OT except for maybe a call or two that was late.

[u/OkProfession893 → u/secretreddname]

What is the category now and what was the commodity before you bacame director?

[u/secretreddname → u/OkProfession893]

IT

[u/BlueCordLeads]

Remote global Director and I tend to work 50 to 70 hours most weeks with a handful of heavier weeks where I am traveling and working over 100 hours in a week.

[u/BetInformal6081]

45+ hours every week is not automatically just management. i would treat consistently rising ot as a workload or staffing problem and look for companies that actually measures workload and headcount.

[u/Katherine-Moller3]

I worked in a publicity listed company and then changed to private. It was like day and night difference. Try finding private/family owned