Having worked both types of jobs, I don't see any dissonance here. In software, I was frequently pressured to deliver more, or in less time, despite my own est

Having worked both types of jobs, I don't see any dissonance here. In software, I was frequently pressured to deliver more, or in less time, despite my own estimates. There often literally was too much to do. When I didn't meet estimates (mine or my manager's), the consequences often fell on me. In labor, I work at a speed that's safe and sustainable, and keep going until the job is done. The head position made the estimates, but if they were low, I'm essentially rewarded for this mistake (via OT). I've never gotten in the least bit of trouble for not working fast enough, and occasionally praised for my speed. As unpleasant as a summer in the south can be, I bet your manager never came by and said "We're in a hurry, so let's just leave half the boxes on the truck, and hope it won't turn out to be a problem later -- customers probably won't even notice". Yet that sort of thing happens all the time in software.