Despite all our talk of flexible work, mental health, and work-life balance, some industries just didn’t get the memo. While startups and tech firms are trialling four-day weeks and unlimited leave, there are still entire sectors stuck in outdated, unsustainable models, particularly the so-called “prestige professions.”
Law: Prestige with a Price
As reported here by HR Leader ‘a rookie solicitor endured marathon shifts, was forced to share a bed with her director, and was made to sit through an ice hockey movie at 1am as part of her job “role”.’ This is an extreme example but the legal world, particularly in corporate law and top-tier firms, overwork is still worn by many as a badge of honour.
- Lawyers routinely work 12–14 hour days, with the pressure to bill aggressively and remain “always on.” Associates are praised for pulling all-nighters and hitting unrealistic targets, while mental health and personal wellbeing take a back seat.
- Speaking up about burnout? Often seen as weakness. Many young lawyers fear career damage if they push back on hours or workload — especially in competitive firms.
- While some forward-thinking firms are starting to implement mental health programs and flexible policies, these are often undermined by unrelenting internal expectations.
Medicine: The Culture of Overwork Is Still Alive and Kicking
Doctors (especially junior ones) are still enduring eye-watering hours, routinely clocking up 60–80 hour weeks, including overnight shifts with little rest. It’s not uncommon for junior hospital staff to work long stints with no guaranteed lunch breaks or back-to-back night shifts.
The result? Alarming rates of burnout, depression, and even suicide.
- With toxic hierarchies, gaslighting, and bullying still rife in some hospital systems. The idea of “earning your stripes” often means tolerating inhumane conditions.
- Despite public awareness and media attention, very little structural change has occurred. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has repeatedly called for capped hours and better rostering — but systemic reform is still lagging.
Academia: Passion Exploited
Universities have long relied on the idea that working in education is “a calling.” But that mindset has led to chronic overwork, casualisation, and underpayment, particularly among early-career academics.
- Many lecturers and PhD candidates are juggling teaching, research, publishing, and admin — often for very little pay and job security.
- Temporary contracts, unpaid overtime, and impossible KPIs have created a toxic work culture cloaked in prestige.
Aviation, Construction, Hospitality: Still Catching Up
While progress has been made, high-risk and high-intensity sectors like aviation, construction, and hospitality are also guilty of:
- Normalising unsafe hours (especially in FIFO and night-shift roles)
- Punitive leave policies or shift swaps
- Tolerating toxic, high-pressure kitchen or crew environments
Union action has helped push back in some sectors, but better regulation and workplace culture reform are still needed.
Enough is Enough: Time for Cultural (and Legal) Change
It’s 2025. There’s no excuse for exploiting workers under the guise of tradition or prestige. We’re seeing amazing change in tech, media, design, and public service roles, where wellbeing, flexibility, and sustainability are front and centre.
Now it’s time for medicine, law, and academia to catch up.
We need:
- Mandatory limits on working hours
- Independent workplace wellbeing audits
- Clear protections for workers who speak up
No job is worth your health.