This week, my partner made a significant decision to leave his job in the financial sector, where he had a high-ranking position for five years. While his exit came unexpectedly to many, a closer look at his experience reveals that, perhaps, it was inevitable.
His departure stemmed from numerous organizational changes; the company had expanded rapidly and hired several skilled individuals to take over roles he had been managing informally. Ironically, he played a key role in recruiting this new talent. However, I believe another reason for his exit was his struggle to adapt to a corporate culture that clearly prioritized work over family.
To be fair, he embraced the workaholic lifestyle to a degree, often returning home after 7 p.m. Family dinners on weekdays were a rarity. I would have dinner with our children while he rushed in to help tuck them into bed, quickly catching up on their day before retreating back to his laptop. Night after night, he was glued to his screen, drafting emails and perfecting presentations until the early hours.
Yet that wasn’t enough for his boss, the CEO, who frequently sought meetings on weeknights and weekends. These gatherings became a weekend staple, with my partner trying to juggle them around our kids’ schedules. Saying no was not an option for him.
Travel demands added another layer of stress, with week-long trips abroad becoming increasingly common. I admit, I struggle with his work trips. The thought of being alone with the kids overnight fills me with dread. I manage the long workdays when he’s preoccupied in his home office, but I need to know he’ll be there to help out at night. A surprise pregnancy with our third child heightened these concerns, prompting him to express that extensive travel was becoming a problem.
A couple of months ago, my partner’s boss’s wife reached out to me, seemingly under the pretext of friendship. We had chatted at various business events, so her invitation to dinner caught me off guard. Over the meal, she shared how the company had surpassed its earnings goals and suggested that perhaps our husbands could afford to work a bit less. However, she also appeared proud of her husband’s long hours and absences while she managed their children alone. As she spoke, I felt an unspoken expectation about our commitment to the corporate lifestyle.
It was a surreal moment, realizing I might have been assessed on my support for my partner’s career. Yes, I want him to work less and spend more time with us, but the reality is his boss didn’t seem to want that. As weekends passed with my partner pulled away from family time, I found myself frustrated—not with him, but with the demands of corporate life.
Is nothing sacred? Family time, especially on weekends, often took a backseat. My husband valued his relationship with his boss, but did it really have to come at the cost of time with our kids? As we navigate this corporate culture that glorifies workaholism, I can’t help but wonder if something is fundamentally broken. We all know that if you’re constantly working, you can’t be present for your family.
The current workplace ethos seems to prioritize business discussions during precious family time. It raises questions about how we define success. After all, I doubt many people reflect at the end of their lives wishing they had spent more time at work or accumulated more possessions.
I’m relieved my partner chose to step away. While the financial sector can be lucrative, we had become somewhat enamored with the money. However, studies suggest that beyond a certain income level, happiness doesn’t increase with wealth. Instead, it can lead to a relentless pursuit of more, overshadowing appreciation for what we already have.
I am grateful for this decision, as it allows my partner to spend more time with our children, playing soccer in the backyard or reading bedtime stories. Thank you, love, for prioritizing us.
In a world where home insemination kits are gaining popularity, and discussions about work-life balance are becoming more common, I think it’s time we all advocate for a culture that respects family time. For more on this topic, check out this resource on pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary
My partner’s decision to leave a demanding corporate job highlights the struggle between work and family life. While the financial sector offers lucrative opportunities, the stress of a workaholic culture can overshadow the importance of family time. The choice to prioritize family over career is a refreshing step toward achieving work-life balance.