Sometimes it's hard communicating the situation to a manager as opening that pandoras box can end up meaning you spend more time giving status than doing the ac

Sometimes it's hard communicating the situation to a manager as opening that pandoras box can end up meaning you spend more time giving status than doing the actual work. But not communicating is not going to help anyone, unless you feel confident that you can get the project back into shape. So the deadline is missed. It happens. The stakeholders need to be prepared and they need to have runway to take action. Finding out in the final week then being asked to train up 10 new contractors is not going to work. Managers know that it doesn't work, but more often than not they feel that is the easiest way to help. You shouldn't give up your personal time unless you feel there is some reward, otherwise you will just feel bitter and leave the company in the next crisis. I gave up a lot of personal time to save a project. I did it for my own credibility and passion, but money, time off in lieu and promotion are the rewards that keep employees. I got one week off (after giving 5 weeks of personal time), and £250 of vouchers (but only if during this crisis, I worked a Saturday on someone elses project). I left that job within 12 months. If anything else, you'll learn the experience of what works and does during crunch time.