"White-collar workers are facing more pressure than ever before," Keith Spencer, career expert and certified professional resume writer at Resume Now—an online platform that provides useful tools and resources to job hunters—told Bored Panda.
"The rise of AI has created both opportunities and challenges. While it's easier to find jobs, standing out in a crowded market is harder. The competition is fierce, with more people applying faster due to AI tools.
"On top of that, workers are balancing the demands of remote work, which can blur the lines between work and life, leading to burnout," Spencer added. "As industries evolve rapidly, there's also constant pressure to upskill, especially when the skills you learned yesterday might not be enough for tomorrow's job market."
According to Resume Now's The Price of Extra Work report, the emotional and mental toll of additional responsibilities remains a significant issue, too.
The survey, conducted in December 2024, discovered that 59% of workers frequently experience burnout due to difficulty saying "no" to extra work. Also, accepting extra work often interferes with personal or family time, with 52% reporting occasional interference and 12% experiencing it constantly.
Resume Now's data also found that women are more likely than men to report frustration (43% vs. 36%) and difficulty concentrating (41% vs. 35%) due to extra work.
Additionally, younger workers (25 and under) report higher levels of frustration (38%) and difficulty managing workloads (38%) compared to older colleagues.
Common strategies employees use in these situations include adjusting workloads or setting boundaries (34%) and seeking support from managers or colleagues (32%).
However, they aren't always effective: 28% of workers have left a job due to stress or burnout.
If you're a white-collar worker who relates to most of these memes but is still unsure whether to quit your job or continue waiting for it to improve, Keith Spencer of Resume Now suggests asking yourself these questions:
- Am I growing? "If you feel like you’ve hit a ceiling or that opportunities for advancement are stagnating, it’s worth considering your next move," the career expert highlighted.
- Does the work align with my values? According to Spencer, if the company’s culture or mission no longer resonates with you and the spark is gone, staying just for the paycheck might not be the best long-term decision.
- How’s my work-life balance? "Is work bleeding into your personal time too often? If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s a sign that something needs to change."
- Am I fairly compensated? Part of a healthy professional relationship is being recognized financially for the value you bring. If you're undervalued, Spencer believes it’s okay to look for a role where your contributions are better rewarded.
- What do others think? "Sometimes an outside perspective from mentors or trusted colleagues can provide clarity, especially when you’re stuck in the day-to-day grind," he said.
And in between making your conclusions, you can always browse some memes.
