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Balancing Work and Life as a Sys Admin

Article from ADMIN 81/2024

By Ken Hess

Until a few months ago, I didn't watch TikTok, but now I find myself staring at countless short-form videos on various topics, from the law to politics to pure silliness.

Until a few months ago, I didn't watch TikTok, but now I find myself staring at countless short-form videos on various topics, from the law to politics to pure silliness. It's easy, free entertainment that requires very little from me as a casual observer. While scrolling through some of my favorite content creators' fluff one night, I stumbled upon this animated office worker, Veronica. She works in a standard corporate office, providing phone support for her employer's services. In short, Veronica knows how to set boundaries. She gives 100 percent to her employer for eight hours but vehemently protects her off-duty time. Did I also mention that she prevents her boss, coworkers, and customers from creating a toxic work environment? She does, and she does so in a calm, professional, and non-combative tone.

One scene showcases Veronica's commitment to her boundaries. When her manager calls for an early 30-minute meeting, she leaves work half an hour early to compensate for the disruption. Her manager disapproves, accusing her of "short-changing" the company. However, Veronica stands her ground, explaining that she is not violating company policies but simply adhering to the agreed-upon eight-hour workday. In another scene, Veronica sets her manager's expectations even further after receiving an after-hours phone call asking her to check her email and respond to time-sensitive requests. Veronica charged two hours of overtime for the hours worked. Her manager told her they didn't know if "upper management would approve the two hours." Veronica answered that upper management didn't have to approve her after-hours work, so she expected to be paid for the time worked. The manager said, "Your generation is something else." Veronica said, "If you mean that we don't give corporations our entire lives and every waking moment for barely any pay, then, yes, we're something else."

I like Veronica. I like that she asserts

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