Agree with you about the work environment however I have a slightly different take. This is personal experience so I can't say this is the norm but I found out something truly astonishing. Heres a little more food for thought - I worked for a large company & worked myself to the bone. I wanted to meet those high expectations. I travelled non-stop, anywhere and anytime. Traveling on Sunday was a given, no big deal, I was committed. Until of course I eventually burned out. I went to another smaller company that is husband and wife owned. This time I wasn't going to let them dictate my life and steal my me-time. I never give more then I feel is fair. I earn a decent wage & feel that I should provide the value back of what they are paying me. I do my job & I push back when needed. This is HUGE. I have been there 5 years and have never felt that I am under scrutiny for "doing less". I think often we BELIVE we must give our whole lives way. But maybe we don't have to. You just have to learn to say no and value yourself and your time enough to not let anyone else take that away.