In America, the culture around work seems to only get more aggressive every year.
There is countless data backing up exactly why this is the way it is. For one thing, about 134 countries around the world have laws limiting the amount of hours you can work in a given week—but the US doesn’t.


For another, Americans worked on average the most annual hours per worker compared to all other countries in the world, according to OECD rankings from 2016. Although it may make us an industrious country, it isn’t always the best for our physical or mental health.
And it’s certainly not the best for any workers who have a lot of family commitments.


Fortunately, it’s become a recent trend for executives and managers to speak up to address this issue.
One of the biggest social media platforms that covers work-related topics and issues is LinkedIn. While it originated as a place to network and find new job opportunities, it has also become a place where employees and managers can write professional blog posts and explain their thoughts on emerging industries. Although most of what you’ll read on the site is pretty dry, sometimes something breaks through and goes viral.
That was the case with one heartfelt post recently written by Ian Sohn, president of Wunderman Chicago.


In his post, Sohn laments how the American workplace has tried to become the most dominant aspect of all workers’ lives.
In all, the post read:
“I never need to know you’ll be back online after dinner.
I never need to know why you chose to watch season 1 of “Arrested Development” (for the 4th time) on your flight to LA instead of answering emails.
I never need to know you’ll be in late because of a dentist appointment. Or that you’re leaving early for your kid’s soccer game.
I never need to know why you can’t travel on a Sunday.
I never need to know why you don’t want to have dinner with me when I’m in your town on a Tuesday night.
I never need to know that you’re working from home today because you simply need the silence.
I deeply resent how we’ve infantilized the workplace. How we feel we have to apologize for having lives. That we don’t trust adults to make the right decisions. How constant connectivity/availability (or even the perception of it) has become a valued skill.
I’m equally grateful for the trust/respect my peers, bosses and teams show me every day.
Years ago a very senior colleague reacted with incredulity that I couldn’t fly on 12 hours notice because I had my kids that night (and I’m a single dad. edit: divorced). I didn’t feel the least bit guilty, which I could tell really bothered said colleague. But it still felt horrible.
I never want you to feel horrible for being a human being.”


Needless to say, Sohn’s words got a huge reaction on social media—to the tune of 36,000 likes on the site and many shares elsewhere.
Although he later clarified that “never needing to know” doesn’t mean that workers shouldn’t communicate with their bosses, but that nobody should ever feel guilty for needing to prioritize their family first over their career.


As Sohn’s own post explains, he has been shamed by other executives for being too much of a family man in business situations, and it was that kind of negative feedback that inspired him to speak out.
And although this certainly affects men, the effect is much more pronounced on professional women as well!


While Sohn’s post isn’t going to single-handedly change America’s workplace problems, it’s certainly a good start!
Many people commented on the post on Sohn’s LinkedIn, saying that his words resonated deeply with them:




Although it’s not a problem that can be fixed overnight, it’s important to remember that work isn’t the only part of life. Although some people are in situations where relentless work may be the only option (which is a huge problem in and of itself), it’s always good to put things back in perspective whenever possible. If you’re thinking about taking on more hours or sacrificing your personal life to make your boss happy, take a minute to consider Sohn’s words.
Thanks for speaking out, Ian!
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