Hey, hey, hey! Slow down! You're going to have to wait until the HR manager's done lecturing me for telling inappropriate jokes at work. I still have to finish watching this stupid video before it's your turn in there with the HR manager!
This was especially germane for me this week. My department was ordered to do more work by upper management. Not because we don't do enough work. Not because us doing more work will solve the problem (which is other locations in our company failing to meet timely customer service metrics). But...because work harder DAMMIT!
It doesn't actually change my job that much. When we have customers who need service, we take care of them. When things are slack, we wait or do other minor tasks. And my location consistently meets the customer service metrics which are the problem elsewhere. But the attitude of "Just do more work because we say so" really stuck in my beak.
I can completely relate to what you’re saying here. I always have to be “on” in my profession. I correspond with clients all day long. I’m middle management so I take it from both sides FFS.