As you read job postings and explore opportunities in the current market, you may come across companies that have unrealistic expectations for their employees. If you accept a position with one of these companies, you may have a stressful work environment or experience unsafe situations due to pressure to perform.
Employers that place undue pressure on employees can also cause them to quit. Considering the average unemployment period was 20.7 weeks in June 2024, few people can afford to quit their jobs and restart their job search.
Fortunately, there are a few warning signs you can look out for when evaluating an employer. Here are a few ways to check if a company sets unrealistic expectations so you can avoid them.
1. Carefully read the job description
There are a few warning signs that you can learn to identify in job descriptions. These red flags might indicate that an employer has unrealistic expectations or that the job won’t meet your quality needs. Here are a few issues to look out for.
- Vague job descriptions;
- Overloaded job descriptions;
- Job requirements that go beyond the average skillset in your field;
- Spelling and grammar mistakes;
- A low salary or unreasonable salary range;
- No mention of employee benefits.
Some companies are required by law to provide a salary range to employees. For example, this is a requirement for the California Pay Transparency Act. An employer who underpays may try to hide their low pay in a dramatic salary range, like $10,000 to $100,000.
2. Check out employer reviews
Many job sites, including Indeed, allow existing employees to write reviews of their employers. This allows job seekers to find healthy work environments while avoiding companies with unrealistic expectations. Read these reviews to see if current or former employees mention unreasonable or inflexible conditions. A few common issues to look for include:
- Overwhelming workloads;
- Tight deadlines that are difficult or impossible to meet;
- Limited training opportunities;
- Understaffing.
One trend that employment experts are noticing is an unwillingness to fill vacant positions. Some companies might try to save money by asking their employees to pick up the slack when someone leaves. This creates a culture of overwork where each employee takes on multiple roles.
3. Ask people who have worked for them
Reach out to employees who have worked with potential employers and ask about the company culture. Learn about their experiences and if the organization sets unrealistic expectations. One warning sign to look out for is if former employees felt burned out when they left the company.
Another warning sign is if a company has a large number of former employees who only worked there for short periods. High turnover rates could indicate a poor company culture, bad management, or unrealistic work expectations.
4. Be wary of employers that do not respect your off-time
Work-life balance is the ability to physically and mentally step away from the office. Companies that respect employee work-life balance set ample breaks between shifts, encourage team members to use their paid time off, and avoid contacting them during off hours.
Work-life balance allows employees to rest after work and have lives beyond the companies they work for. It’s so important that some states have proposed “right to disconnect” laws that fine employers for contacting workers when they aren’t on the job. Countries such as France and Canada have already adopted such laws.
Look out for employers who expect you to always be available. While some industries need team members to be on-call in case of an emergency, employers should have clearly defined periods for when employees work and when they don’t. A healthy employer will want you to step away so you can return to work refreshed and ready to do your best.
5. Watch out for employers that do not abide by safety regulations
Employers with unrealistic expectations might overwork employees to the point where they are operating in unsafe environments. For example, companies that don’t give drivers enough time to rest between shifts could send drowsy drivers on the road, potentially causing accidents. Other employers might overlook safety regulations because of the cost of equipment or the time requirements to train team members.
Not only are unsafe workplaces stressful to be in, but they also pose a physical threat. Injuries are painful, and costly, and can affect your ability to work in the future, potentially threatening your entire career.
If you live in an area where regulations may already be relatively loose, or any big city where one company could be overlooked, carefully vet any potential employer to make sure they take employee safety seriously.
6. Take note of how employers speak to employees
If a potential employer invites you to the office for an interview, watch how managers speak to employees and how they respond. Leaders set the tone for company communication and workplace culture. Managers who make demands, refuse to let employees ask questions, and speak rudely to others reflect the company as a whole.
Consider how you would like to be treated as an employee. If you don’t see that reflected in a potential employer, consider applying elsewhere.
7. Be aware of industries where unrealistic expectations are a common issue
Some industries are more prone to overwork and unrealistic expectations than others. While not all employers will be difficult to work with, you may need to spend a little more time evaluating companies and managers before you accept positions in certain fields.
For example, the tech industry is notorious for conditions that push employees’ limits. Long hours and an ‘always on’ environment cause a great deal of strain as companies seek to develop the next ‘killer app.’ Likewise, when it comes to always being online and responding to emails, the marketing industry may tend to encourage an unhealthy work-life balance.
To be sure, the tech and marketing industries have plenty of employers who are aware of the toxic work environment stereotype and do their best to cultivate healthy cultures. Yet the nature of these industries does tend to encourage intense competition. This can bleed over into less-than-healthy work-life balances for employees who end up online during their off-hours and don’t get paid for it.
Conversely, hospitality jobs, industrial warehouse jobs, and facilities management positions typically offer employees a clear boundary between work and personal life. Since employees in these roles aren’t working online, they can clock out and physically leave their work behind them. Labor laws require employers to give employees breaks and make a clear delineation between regular hours and overtime.
The hospitality industry has plenty of fast-paced jobs, including waitstaff, bartenders, and line cooks. These jobs can be exciting, and there’s no need for employees to constantly check emails.
How to navigate unrealistic expectations as an employee
If you accept a position and discover that your employer has unreasonable work expectations, you have a few options to prevent burnout and create a healthier work environment. Here are a few things to consider:
- Talk to your manager about the workload and explain why it’s unreasonable.
- Apply to switch teams within the organization. Another leader might be more reasonable.
- Request additional compensation for your work or request improved payment processes that benefit you.
- Try to set reasonable expectations before you start a new project. You may need to adjust the company culture one job at a time.
If these steps do not work, it may be time to leave the company. Explain to your manager that their expectations are unreasonable when you submit your resignation and mention these issues again in your exit interview.
Avoiding companies with unreasonable expectations can help you find an employer you are happy with. Your goal in the job search process is to find long-term employment and career growth. Don’t ignore the warning signs of a workplace that sets unrealistic expectations. Instead, search for an environment where you can thrive.
