There are sector-specific pressures, too. Employees in some creative jobs are meant to feel ‘lucky’, so working a few extra hours is assumed. In finance, pulling an all-nighter is a rite of passage on the way to becoming a partner. Challenging such social norms in the workplace is seen as taboo. “As humans, we want to be seen as being nice and amenable,” says Lordan. “It all fits into our narrative that we’re hard workers and collaborative. Long hours traditionally measure hard work and productivity – and so we work unpaid overtime.”
