It’s not about “risking burning out the employees”. Small companies simply don’t have a chain of command and employees are taking on so many mission-critical th

It’s not about “risking burning out the employees”. Small companies simply don’t have a chain of command and employees are taking on so many mission-critical things at once that employers need them to be constantly available. I worked at a startup as an engineer and was the most technical person at the company. My personal life was not respected by the CEO because I was the only one who could navigate the 2am calls with the overseas manufacturers. I ended up quitting my job because of that, but someone more desperate for work than me would have probably taken that abuse for a lot longer, at the detriment of their mental health.