How many years have you been grinding away, sacrificing most of your nights and weekends because work has been the top priority? I'm pulling in decent pay these days, but it feels like I'm always on the clock. I know that dialing back could jeopardize my job security, but I'm beginning to question if it's worth it. I'm constantly exhausted, sleep is a luxury, and family time is practically non-existent. Does it ever get any easier?
11 replies (most recent on top)
I learned really quickly that at this company you need to be the one setting boundaries. The potential amount of work here is infinite, so either learn to say no, or risk burning out.
Only the deadwood and the failures try to hang in for the long term these days.
I left a year ago, after 8 years. SO glad I did!!! Less commute, a raise, 40-45 hr work week (not 50-60 salary) No ridiculous 9 Block, 401k match every paycheck. Best of all less stress and mgmt that cares about the employee., no blame. Good luck if you do start looking.
I am a highly experienced and qualified engineer who also spent 5 years at Honeywell. Before Honeywell I could get a high quality position within 3 or 4 applications, I was laid off in 2021(which was actually a huge relief) but it took me a whole year to find a decent job, I questioned why, finally I got an answer from one employer who rejected me. I was outright told that it was Honeywell as my last position that put me straight in the garbage, Honeywell now has one of the worst reputations in industry. The longer you are there, the worse that will impact you. Don't be another loser, leave.
My advise? Get out as soon as you can. I wish I had listened to my instincts after only 5 years in. I’m sure my life would be immeasurably better right now if I had. The longer you stay here, the harder it is to leave and put yourself in a better position. Honeywell hurts your career long term. Hurts your future job prospects. Honeywell is infested with evil people at the executive level and unless you’re a bootlicker, you will never advance at Honeywell beyond a certain point. You’ll make it f so far, only to one day realize you’re being held back from further advancement. When you are advanced it happens way too slowly so you spend long periods of time stuck (but you’re doing the next levels work, just not getting the pay or recognition for it) You will eventually be discarded like a piece of garbage. No matter how well you perform. They don’t care. They will toss you without a thought. Unless you’re willing to lick executives boots. Then you’ll become one of them.
So leave already.
Twenty years ago, maybe even ten in the right groups, the company was worth extra effort, and it was rewarded. Those days are, sadly, long gone, and I don't think they'll ever come back, at least at Honeywell.
Many leave the toxic hole after a far shorter stint; life is too short to endure an environment this bad.
Here’s the philosophy here. I’m assuming it’s everywhere at Honeywell. I work for a division that has a union. They don’t want more pay. They vote every contract in. In order to work Monday through Friday. Plus, they want to work Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. 12 hours a day.
Then they tell you it’s easy money. This how people act when they have an addiction. There’s no common sense. It consumes them.
The company was willing to give them a Monday through Thursday shift. They were going to introduce a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday shift. 12 hour shifts. They didn’t want this because it would’ve took their overtime away.
Then, like somebody who has a true addiction. They expect everyone else to do the same. Where is the common sense? This is why Honeywell will always have this culture. They’re hiring the right people. The other people they can PIP, or layoff.
I have been in and out of Honeywell several times. Each return was for a significant step in responsibility and pay that leveraged past experience. Honeywell is safer than most companies in my experience but the benefits are worse.
My advise would be to remember who you work for …. YOU and YOUR FAMILY. You do work for Honeywell but at the end of the day … you are the boss not Honeywell. Do what benefits YOU Inc.
You are the one who has to set boundaries for them. Do your work, plus a bit extra as needed from time to time, then take your time off. They want you to fear a layoff or PIP, but will replace you at the drop of a hat if you have medical issue. If you worry about job security, keep your skills and resume up to date. Take care of yourself. Spend time with your family, especially your kids, as you can never get that back. Get proper sleep and learn techniques to reduce stress. Managers will take the easy way out and load you up with work than is reasonable instead of staffing properly. You'll never look back at life wishing you had worked more so that someone else could get a bonus.