Minus: You'll never get promoted because no one else can do that job

Plus: You'll never get laid off for the same reason

Recently met a surgeon specialist who was responsible for covering multiple hospitals in the area. Had 13 surgeries lined up waiting for her, after my friend, who she finished working on at ~midnight that day.

Being important sure can have downsides.

Worse, you become important but with no pay raise

Then it becomes all pain no gain

Yup. I go out of my way not to be important at work. Get things done. Stay under the radar. Don't take any promotions unless you reaaaally need that money or think they'll get rid of you if you don't.

I've had excess responsibility at jobs and it makes life a living hell. Ain't worth it.

Samesies.

I used to be a programming monkey. It was absolutely fine, I enjoyed it and other people got the flak if things weren't done on time or there were other problems. My code was never the problem - each day, I spent at least four hours working for the company and up to four hours on my own projects, on the company dime.

Seems like I got too.. confident in meetings. Made suggestions. People took too much notice.

Now I'm some kind of lead architect which pays really well, but there's no more time for myself, there's much more pressure, I can't code nearly as much as I want to and the fun is gone.

That's why I'm leaving.

EDIT:
The important guy before me already left and I already see the next one.

Mood.

They're about to find out just how important I actually am. Which isn't a lot and it frightens me greatly. Or, I'm wrong, and I'm more important than I realize.

The grippy socks will be here soon and either way they'll be necessary to survive until the next burnout.

Sounds like an Anime title

God dam that hits close.

I’m really damn good at what I do. I am not a good teacher. If you make me teach the new class because I’m good at doing the job…it won’t go well.

Within a few months at my current job, someone unironically referred to me as a thought leader in my department at the company in an all-hands meeting. The look of surprise on my face… I almost blurted out “it’s fuckin’ chat GPT, man!” Glad I didn’t, but seriously… LLMs used correctly are a powerful tool.

This is why you should not work too hard, but just at the right amount. Employers might deem you are too valuable to be promoted. And exceeding way beyond expectations and performance might also raise the standards impossibly high for most other workers, and that will cause resentment.

Nah I'm vibing. I've been working here for so long, I know a lot about many things and people keep coming to me for help, it's great! And yes, I'm content with my pay.

Ahh, the friendly sibling of: "My co-worker accidentally became important at work, and they laid them off, now my life is ruined"

HAHAHAHAhahaha...ha...😭