The Joke is on the Exempt Employee

Free AI web copilot to create summaries, insights and extended knowledge, download it at here

1380

Abstract

thought I could change it, but all I did was reinforce a system that didn’t align with my values.</p><p id="8db6">For a company that didn’t celebrate the unique gifts I brought to the table.</p><p id="cb39">For a corporation that eventually closed my office.</p><p id="831f">I lost my job at age 58. I was the least tenured with the company that was let go, at 14 years.</p><p id="4497">Never devote your life to a company. Never let them drain you dry. Require that any company or manager you work for notice you, see your gifts, and celebrate you.</p><p id="a801">Know even then that they can turn on you for a dime.</p><p id="5635">That’s business.</p><p id="dcd3">Thanks to <a href="">Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) </a>for the prompt!</p><div id="767f" class="link-block"> <a href="https://link.medium.com/tg9sroaldkb"> <div> <div> <h2>Stop Saying "Exciting Opportunity" When You Mean "Unpaid Labour"</h2> <div><h3>exploitative language that use uncompensated work expecting and creating a new normal where a job is no longer a job but…</h3></div> <div><p>link.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*ESK6pFCMZDyyowlG.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div>

Options

</a>
    </div><p id="74e8"><i>Kim McKinney lost her job at age 58. While it was not her choice, it gave her freedom. While her idealist self finally realized she cannot change major corporations, she did remember she is not forced to work anywhere that does not share her values or value what she has to offer. She hopes you realize that, too.</i></p><p id="efda">Hey, are you a Medium member? It just costs $5 a month or $50 a year. In return, you support the work of writers like me and get to read unlimited content from the writers on this site. You can even ask me for recommendations. I am a member myself, read often, and I know some great ones! Here’s a link to membership.</p><div id="f94e" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://kimmckinney719.medium.com/membership">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Join Medium with my referral link - Kim McKinney</h2>
            <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story on…</h3></div>
            <div><p>kimmckinney719.medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*Rthbkf3EwwKo-7o3.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div></article></body>

There is more to life

They say you are scheduled for 40-hour work weeks. Theoretically, some weeks you work 60, others you may work twenty.

Those who are exempt employees can laugh now. That rarely happens in any company.

Truth is that the expectation is that you work 60-hours plus, week after week, but will never be paid for more than 40 hours.

I watched the young and eager give up their twenties, trying to meet expectations. Thrown into positions for which they were not trained, or mentored, and expected to sink or swim.

I saw some drown, their joy of life slowly leaving their eyes. I saw others confident in the knowledge they didn’t possess.

I worked fast, and efficiently, so more work was given to me, until I too was drowning. Not normally prone to stress, friends noticed.

“Why are you doing this to yourself?”

I guess I thought I could change it, but all I did was reinforce a system that didn’t align with my values.

For a company that didn’t celebrate the unique gifts I brought to the table.

For a corporation that eventually closed my office.

I lost my job at age 58. I was the least tenured with the company that was let go, at 14 years.

Never devote your life to a company. Never let them drain you dry. Require that any company or manager you work for notice you, see your gifts, and celebrate you.

Know even then that they can turn on you for a dime.

That’s business.

Kim McKinney lost her job at age 58. While it was not her choice, it gave her freedom. While her idealist self finally realized she cannot change major corporations, she did remember she is not forced to work anywhere that does not share her values or value what she has to offer. She hopes you realize that, too.

Hey, are you a Medium member? It just costs $5 a month or $50 a year. In return, you support the work of writers like me and get to read unlimited content from the writers on this site. You can even ask me for recommendations. I am a member myself, read often, and I know some great ones! Here’s a link to membership.