August 18, 2025

Modern offices run on one secret thing: employees saying “yes.” Yes to working late, yes to swapping shifts, yes to doing tasks far from their own jobs. For years, bosses called this ambition and loyalty. But a spicy new report from LiveCareer titled 'Hidden Costs and Rewards of Extra Work' shakes this idea hard. Based on a survey with 1,160 US employees, the report reveals the bitter price workers pay for always saying yes. At first glance, saying yes seems great. It might bring better skills, raises, or promotions. But under the surface lies a tough fact: almost all employees get burned out from too much work. The report says that saying yes is no longer just extra effort—it has become a daily survival trick. Here's the eye-opener: 77% of workers take on extra jobs outside their roles every week, with over a third doing it daily. Only 3% ever get to say no! This isn’t a rare favor anymore; it’s a normal part of work. Burnout has become a silent epidemic. Shockingly, 93% of workers say their extra work leads to feeling burned out. Nearly 60% feel tired all the time because saying “no” is so hard. What’s crazy? Burnout is now seen not as a warning sign but as a badge of honor for hanging in there. Why don’t people refuse? Over half — 56% — feel pushed to say yes. More than a quarter report direct pressure from managers. Plus, wanting to look good (24%), be a team player (23%), or climb the career ladder (18%) keeps them agreeing. Only 11% say no and hold their ground. This shows a scary work mindset: refusing might harm your future, so people sacrifice themselves. The requests to do extra come from everywhere: managers (23%), senior leaders and coworkers (22% each), other team managers (21%), even HR (13%). And the extra jobs aren’t shiny projects—they are chores like paperwork, event planning, overtime, mentoring, or covering for absent colleagues. Still, there’s a silver lining. About one in three workers finds skill growth, better pay, or stronger bonds with coworkers from extra work. Around 31% get career boosts. Also, 90% think they get fair pay for extra work, and over half believe their efforts keep the business alive. Older workers (41+) feel more fairness and growth chances than the younger crowd, who think it’s often thankless. The big picture? Extra work has both upsides and painful downsides. When almost everyone’s overloaded, it’s not about individuals—it’s the whole system broken. The culture of endless “yes” may help companies survive now, but it drains workers’ energy, health, and spirit for good. LiveCareer’s report holds a mirror up to today’s work life. Saying “yes” isn’t joy—it’s pressure. Companies praise it as loyalty, but it really shows a system feeding on people’s tiredness. The way forward? Employees must dare to say no sometimes. Employers must stop relying on burned-out workers. Until then, saying “yes” will be less about chances and more about losing energy, balance, and respect at work. For workers eager to rise, the lessons are clear: success isn’t endless hustle. Setting limits protects growth. Being productive means quality, not just hours. Burnout kills long-term dreams. Pick what to say yes to, and save energy for the big wins. Most of all, rest is a secret weapon in the busy battle of modern careers.

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Tags: Overwork, Burnout, Workplace culture, Employee wellness, Extra work, Livecareer report,