Burnout is Not a Badge of Honor

I graduated college in 2008… just three months before the Great Recession changed everything. What should have been an exciting start to my career quickly turned into a crash course in survival.

Jobs were scarce. Opportunities were fragile. And because of the economy, it often felt like companies could ask for anything and expect no pushback. I remember feeling grateful just to have a paycheck, even as the conditions around me were anything but healthy.

For years (really until around 2013) that environment persisted. I worked jobs where the unspoken rule was to give everything you had and expect nothing in return. One company in particular stands out: it was the kind of place where you were worked to the bone until you inevitably made a mistake… and then you were replaced.

If you left at 5:00 PM, you were seen as disloyal. People who stayed late, and worked weekends and holidays were praised. Those who prioritized their well-being were quietly pushed aside. Burnout wasn’t seen as a problem… it was treated like a badge of honor.

Even years after I left that job, the stress lingered. I had recurring stress dreams where I was still working there, still under that same crushing pressure, still afraid of making one wrong move.

Looking back, I can see it clearly… that I wasn’t “paying my dues.” It wasn’t “earning my stripes.” It was a toxic work culture built on fear and exploitation.

Burnout is NOT a badge of honor. It’s a warning sign that something is broken… and it’s not you.

Today, I’m intentional about seeking workplaces where respect, balance, and trust are the foundation, because supported people do their best work.

If we want to build healthy companies, we have to stop celebrating burnout and start celebrating sustainability.