It's almost impossible to fathom how intrusive work, with the aid of the latest technology, has become for the average corporate babe/dude. A friend who just got promoted had the pleasure of being away from family to celebrate well into the evening after work at a restaurant with an irritating boss, who, not surprisingly, chose to forgo relationships and children to live the feminist dream and hates anyone who didn't make that choice and so makes them pay--by going to a late dinner to satisfy the missing social needs.
Those who are self-employed have more freedom. Others have sacrificed career advancement just so they can say no to inane dinners and obtrusive work policies.
Ann Althouse pointed me to this New York Times editorial, "Oh Joy! Breakfast With The Boss". It analyzes different ways people have coped with the assault on down time. Having lots of executives come through our office and working with others on the business end of things, I have seen many choices and they tend to be internally motivated not externally dictated. That is, some executives create hard boundaries for their family lives and rarely budge. Some people consistently choose work over family because they're convinced that's the only way to excel.
Both are right.
While it does take a stronger constitution to fight the "man" in certain work environments, it often comes down to priorities. And, from what I've seen, people make choices because what they do (whatever it is) makes them happy.
When working for a big corporation, it is difficult sometimes to balance work with family. Our family feels this issue all the time. Sometimes it simply gets to be too much.
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