Here’s a little workplace secret no one tells you: just because your boss is panicking, doesn’t mean you have to.
We’ve all been there — a “crisis” email at 8 PM, frantic Slack messages, calls labeled URGENT. Suddenly, you’re skipping dinner, canceling plans, running like your job’s on fire.
But let’s be honest: 90% of these “emergencies” aren’t life or death. They’re bad planning, poor leadership, or someone else dropping the ball.
🚫 Stop Making Their Problem Your Lifestyle
- They didn’t plan ahead. That’s on them.
- They’re stressed because of their own deadlines. Not yours.
- They’re trying to make you fix mistakes you didn’t make.
🛠️ How to Handle the Fake Emergencies
- Pause Before You Panic – Just because they say it’s urgent doesn’t make it true.
- Ask for Clarity – “What’s the real deadline? What happens if this waits until tomorrow?”
- Protect Your Boundaries – If it’s after hours and not life-threatening, it can wait.
- Don’t Reward Chaos – If you always jump, they’ll always call. Train people to respect your time.
✊ DamnJobs Opinion:
Being a great employee doesn’t mean being an unpaid firefighter. You’re allowed to have a life, a bedtime, and a “nope, not tonight” response.
Your boss’s emergency is not your emergency.