Boss Sent Me Home because I Work Too Hard??

[Sean Dave]

I just started working in a fully commissioned sales position and I've been putting the extra effort lately as I am new and there is a lot to learn. I've been working 13 hour days/6 days a week for the past three weeks and now I am in the top 5 out of 48 salespeople for the month of April.

I was told when I first started that I can work for as long as I want since it was fully commission based. Now my boss sent me home early because apparently I work too hard? He told me to go relax, have fun, and enjoy my life. I said to him that I really just enjoy working and making money. But still he insisted that I go home for the day and told me that he "wasn't asking".

I get along very well with my boss and I always thought that bosses liked hard working people. I don't understand why my boss would punish me and send me home today for being a good employee.

If anyone can give me insight as to why a boss might do this, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Inva]

I don't think your boss is punishing you. He just does not want you to die in the line of duty, as you're needed for next week too.

 

[Andy83]

Yes I agree with @Inva... I think your boss has done it to protect you..

The last thing you want to do is burn yourself out... Because then your conversion rates will drop etc...

I would have a good rest over the weekend and then go back in Monday and try and get to number 1 out of 48!! Good luck... Its sounds like you have the drive and commitment to get to the top spot!!

Regards

Andy

 

[intheTRADE]

You might not see it now, but trust me your boss isn't punishing you.

They actually sound like a very decent boss. Not all of them are like that

 

[Newchodge]

Yes I agree with @Inva... I think your boss has done it to protect you..

The last thing you want to do is burn yourself out... Because then your conversion rates will drop etc...

I would have a good rest over the weekend and then go back in Monday and try and get to number 1 out of 48!! Good luck... Its sounds like you have the drive and commitment to get to the top spot!!

Regards

Andy

I think that suggesting the guy works on a bank holiday is reinforcing his over-active work ethic

 

[Andy83]

Hahaha oh yes forgot about the bank holiday haha

 

[Mitch3473]

You'll be far more use to him and yourself for having the break. Use the time well and try not to think about work, difficult though it can be as it seems.....

 

[Mr D]

it sounds like the boss is trying to protect one of his rising stars - that's you.

nothing wrong with working hard, think of this as a tiny reward for working hard.

13 hour days 6 days a week are a great start and presumably you are young enough to handle it. working yourself into the ground will not help, nor will becoming ill.

work hard by all means. also take time off, recharge. show your boss you have a good work / life balance too. he should by the sound of it appreciate the work but be in it for the long haul with you.

in a way your boss is giving you a compliment.

 

[Sean Dave]

Appreciate the replies everyone. Everything you guys have said makes sense. I guess I was overthinking what my boss meant by sending me home. It’s always good to think about the positive side of things, one aspect I need to improve on lol.

 

[MBE2017]

As someone who worked in direct sales for many years, commission only etc, learn from this. I used to have a very simple mantra for my guys, work hard but smart, play harder.

The guys who learn to do both last, too much of either and you fail eventually. Nice to see a sensible manager at last.

 

[Newchodge]

Just to put it into perspective the maximum working time per week (averaged over 17 weeks) is 48 hours. You are doing 68. The maximum working week limit is there for health and safety reasons, and your boss also has a health and safety duty. You should be proud to have a boss like that.

 

[Mr D]

ah the good old days when you could work as long as you wanted...
the 70 hour weeks, the payslip that was a net over 3 times basic pay...
all gone. and its called progress.

these days you have to be a business owner to get away with working long hours.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Selling is a bit like sport at a high level, life is great whilst at the top and winning every order regardless of the effort taken, then more often than not along comes a stream of rejects and the mind goes into freefall looking at what's gone wrong, and the more you look inwards the more downhill you go

Your manager is giving you time out to recover and make a life outside selling that may give you the strength to overcome any hurdles that may come up in the future

 

[tony84]

I love my job and for a while I would work any and every hour, eventually it catches up with you.
7 years in, I still love my job, but if I do more than 50 hours in a week, I need a break for 2-3 days.

I realise there are people who do 50 hours every week and in the past I have 12-14 hour days in both office and manual work, but now I feel it.

If you are 5th for the month you are doing well, but if you get burnout you lose the passion, enthusiasm and energy needed to perform at that level. Take the break, make the most of it and go back next week refreshed. It is not a punishment.

When I worked in a previous job, they used to do a competition each week where you could pick a prize, the prize taken by most was an early dart on Friday.

 

[MBE2017]

Many years ago I worked in a team of 50 salesmen in a large town and made sure I was in the top 5-10 each week, but never higher. My manager asked why I wasn’t number 1-2, knowing I could have done it if I wished.

I mentioned I wanted to be like wallpaper in the office, always there, but not really noticed. I got the best of both worlds, high earnings but left alone, the guys in the top 1-3 were urged on to more and more, and invariably left within a few months. I spent good 10 years at that place, most didn’t last even a year.

 

[Mr D]

Many years ago I worked in a team of 50 salesmen in a large town and made sure I was in the top 5-10 each week, but never higher. My manager asked why I wasn’t number 1-2, knowing I could have done it if I wished.

I mentioned I wanted to be like wallpaper in the office, always there, but not really noticed. I got the best of both worlds, high earnings but left alone, the guys in the top 1-3 were urged on to more and more, and invariably left within a few months. I spent good 10 years at that place, most didn’t last even a year.

Lol - yes a good strategy.

Places I worked the top spot had fierce competition and some backstabbing to get. Being in the top quarter, being often in the top 10 percent was good enough to avoid being cut from the team. Usually the worst performers each year were let go.

Those who needed to have sales as a career were welcome to compete, those of us just earning money until could find something else did not need that number one spot.

 

[Mitch3473]

ah the good old days when you could work as long as you wanted...
the 70 hour weeks, the payslip that was a net over 3 times basic pay...
all gone. and its called progress.

these days you have to be a business owner to get away with working long hours.

Remember it well.

and


Yes.

 

[Jessica A.]

I just started working in a fully commissioned sales position and I've been putting the extra effort lately as I am new and there is a lot to learn. I've been working 13 hour days/6 days a week for the past three weeks and now I am in the top 5 out of 48 salespeople for the month of April.

I was told when I first started that I can work for as long as I want since it was fully commission based. Now my boss sent me home early because apparently I work too hard? He told me to go relax, have fun, and enjoy my life. I said to him that I really just enjoy working and making money. But still he insisted that I go home for the day and told me that he "wasn't asking".

I get along very well with my boss and I always thought that bosses liked hard working people. I don't understand why my boss would punish me and send me home today for being a good employee.

If anyone can give me insight as to why a boss might do this, that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Your boss is just looking out for your welfare. He wouldn't want one of his top workers to collapse while on the job right? Sometimes you have to give yourself a break. Don't overwork, try to stop and enjoy life. And your boss may also be wanting his other workers to catch up and work like you do.

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

Many years ago I worked in a team of 50 salesmen in a large town and made sure I was in the top 5-10 each week, but never higher. My manager asked why I wasn’t number 1-2, knowing I could have done it if I wished.

I mentioned I wanted to be like wallpaper in the office, always there, but not really noticed. I got the best of both worlds, high earnings but left alone, the guys in the top 1-3 were urged on to more and more, and invariably left within a few months. I spent good 10 years at that place, most didn’t last even a year.

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