I was recently laid off from Deloitte after working there for 6 yrs. The whole thing ended in a 10-minute call with some partner I barely knew and someone from HR. Six years of working hard, staying late, and putting the company before almost everything else... and they got rid of me in 10 minutes.
I went through six busy seasons, worked thousands of hours of overtime, and spent most of my 20s sitting in front of a computer trying to meet deadlines. I missed birthdays, family dinners, and trips with friends because there was always something urgent that needed to be finished. I kept telling myself things would get better after the next busy season, but they never did.
There was always another deadline, another client asking for something, and another late night at work.
What makes this even worse is how much my health suffered during those years. I was always stressed, barely getting enough sleep, drinking too much coffee, and eating whatever I could find because I didn't have time for a proper meal. I stopped going to the gym and hardly had time for anything outside work. I remember opening my laptop late at night because something needed to be done before morning. I thought if I worked hard and showed the company I was dedicated, it would mean something. Now I realize I was just another employee they could remove whenever they wanted. I've also been reading comments from other people who worked at Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC, and so many have similar stories. Some spent years working crazy hours and still ended up losing their jobs. One person said they were laid off after coming back from maternity leave, and another said they had a great performance rating and still got cut. It really makes you wonder what all that hard work is for.
The strange thing is that even though losing my job was a shock, part of me actually feels relieved. For the first time in six years, I don't have to worry about utilization numbers, client deadlines, or checking emails in the middle of the night. I'm sad that it ended this way, but I'm also tired of living like that. I gave Deloitte some of the best years of my life, and I can't get that time back. I'm done with the Big 4 and don't plan on going back. I want a normal job where I can finish my work, go home, spend time with family, and not feel guilty about taking a day off. Losing a job after six years is difficult, but losing your health and personal life because of work is even worse. I just wish I had figured that out sooner...