Overtime culture
I’m a PGY3 who just started a new role in psychiatry. I wanted to see everyone’s opinions regarding an interaction I had with a senior registrar.
He mentioned that he noticed I’m usually the first one to leave at 4:30pm. The thing is, I make a pretty conscious effort to get my work done efficiently during the day. I often skip or shorten lunch breaks so I can keep moving through jobs, and before I leave I ask colleagues if anyone needs help with anything urgent.
I’m not leaving with unfinished tasks sitting there, and I’m not disappearing the second the clock hits 4:30 if there’s genuinely something that needs doing. I just value having some work-life balance and try to avoid staying late just for the sake of being seen staying late.
The comment got into my head a bit because medicine sometimes feels like there’s an unspoken expectation that “good doctors stay back” or that leaving on time can be interpreted as not being committed enough.
Am I approaching this the wrong way? Is staying back just part of the expectation in medicine, or is it reasonable to protect your own time if your work is completed and your responsibilities are covered?