Working Overtime: Do You Have An Exit Strategy?

We humans have a big issue in turning down and saying NO to anyone in general. But this habit has cost the exploitation of human time and efforts especially in workspace. This brings non-congeniality both in the professional and personal front of a man’s life. But that doesn’t mean that we should not help each other. Of Course we should, but not at the cost of your mental and physical health. So, when you should NO to extra work? Let’s learn  

When should you say NO to extra work?

Working extra hours is not new for any office goers or professionals. For many years people working overtime have been considered a sign of hard work and dedication. Due to this mindset the culture of overworking grew and grew. Till the point that it becomes suffocating for the employees itself due to the very exploitation at the workspace. But in the last few years workspaces are now talking about the hazards of overworking. 

So, it’s high time that we learn when to say NO to extra work but before that remember these pointers:

• Process the request for its pros and cons.
• Why are you asked to perform that work?
• Be neutral to the situation
• Be absolutely clear about your answers.
• Be calm and courteous.

Now, we will talk about when to say No to extra work:

1. When it’s not your niche or area of specialization. Sometimes due to employee absenteeism, you are offered extra work out of your league. Personally, if you are someone who loves trying new things out then it might be easier for you to take the extra work. But if you are someone who likes sticking to their area of expertise then it is always good to say NO rather than wasting your time.
2. When you are not paid well or not paid at all for the extra work. Remember there are no free lunches in the world. Even if you choose to work extra you should ask for an additional amount. As time is valuable for everyone.
3. It can create ruckus for your profile. It has been seen that out of curiosity or on an obligatory basis we do extra work which was not required. This basically can lead to disturbance in your work if it is too time-consuming or if it is too out of syllabus for you.
4. When your workplace takes you for granted. It is assumed all over the world that once you say yes to extra work then you will say yes always. This perception is one of the core reasons of thriving the overwork culture over the years. As if you say No you will be looked down or cornered. So, make a habit that people ask you every time when they need you without assuming that you are always ready to help.
5. When you feel exploited. There are times when you do extra work wholeheartedly and you complete it on time. You feel you have done something fruitful for yourself. But later you realized that actually you were just exploited with false promises.
6. When it takes a toll on your health. Physical and mental well-being is both closely associated with your work culture. It’s like a vicious circle once you enter the grind it’s difficult to exit. So make sure you keep your health as a top priority than other aspects of life.

How to turn down Extra work politely

Saying NO is not easy for most of us, especially on the professional front. But it is as important as saying YES to work. The way you put down the request also matters a lot as you can be on the other side of the situation too. So, here are some examples to turn down extra work politely:

• “I am already committed to other assignments, sorry won’t be possible for me to help you. ”
• “This sounds great but unfortunately I have a time shortage.”
• “Frankly, speaking it doesn’t sound exciting to me. Better you help someone else this time.”
• “This time I am not seeing much scope to perform here.”
• “I guess this is your expertise and you should lead this project. If possible I will help you soon.”
• “We already have similar projects in the pipeline. So, better we get rid of this one at the moment.”
• “I have not been feeling well for the past few days. I might go on a break due to health issues. Please ask someone else.”

When to say No to additional work responsibilities at work

Usually, we do overwork to step up the ladder in the rat race to succeed. We consider pleasing our bosses by overworking. But this thought process is now declining as it is harmful for professional and personal growth. So, you should understand when you have to nod for NO when it comes to overwork. 

Also Read: Learn How To Say “NO” To Your Boss

These are the situations in which you should say NO to overwork: 

• Work Offered Is Not In Line With Your Work
• It’s Not Your Cup Of Tea
• When You Feel It Will Deteriorate Your Present Profile
• No Exit For You

When you feel the extra work isn’t reasonable.

There are signs which will always tell you that the extra work is not the worth of your inputs. So, let’s bring on the table that when you feel the extra work is not reasonable for you: 

• When you feel like a ROBOT
• When your efforts are not appreciated
• When you are not paid for it
• It leads to more extra work

Although we have discussed that saying yes to overwork is not recommended. At times there are unavoidable circumstances that you may offer help or ask for help from others. But there is always a thin line which demarks the extra work and help. Already the workplaces are so stressful around the world in order to win the rat race to achieve the numero uno position that they don’t mind putting their people under the grind. But it has been seen that this kind of work culture has given rise to many disorders like stress, depression, anxiety, sleep deprivation, etc. Slowly many small or big companies are focusing on quality work rather than quantity. This is a welcomed step and I hope we take more steps to help ourselves and create a better working environment. For that power of NO is essential. So, learn to say NO. It is a very useful tool.