Dilemma: I recently started my first job and am really enjoying it, but my peer group is very competitive. People try to outdo each other by working late and sending e-mails at weekends. My peer mentor says that if you want to be taken seriously you should not take your holiday allowance. I’d like to take time off soon but I’m worried about what people will say.

Dan Flint, HR director, Accenture UK and Ireland, accenture.com
Work-life balance is a regular top-three feature in graduate wish-lists of the things they look for in a prospective employer, yet when it comes to actually doing the job, this priority can go out the window in an effort to impress and progress.
A competitive working environment is inevitable among graduates who are ambitious, but while some degree of competition can be healthy it should not be to the detriment of an employee’s performance. This case is a classic example of the rumour mill at work and should be nipped in the bud now by speaking to your manager. More organisations recognise the need for employees to balance their work and private lives, with higher productivity, raised morale and reduced absenteeism just some of the benefits. Management should appreciate your candour and clarify any concerns you have. Employers want well rounded people, not workaholics. If you’re chained to your desk 24/7, there are serious time management issues to be addressed.

Nic Sale, managing psychologist, Pearn Kandola, pearnkandola.com
Work-life balance will vary across your career, depending on when you are focusing on your progression and when you are prioritising things outside work. Let your colleagues know that you are in control of this balance. You decide when you will put in the extra hours and when you won’t. Consistently long hours result in lower levels of performance, flag ineffective working habits and are often the penchant of people pretending to be important. Others genuinely enjoy it, but they tend not to talk about it. Verbalising these points will not win you any friends, but have them in mind as you gird your loins to break the long-hours culture. Flexibility is key. At times you will genuinely need to put in extra hours, sometimes you will want to work late. The critical thing is that you take control of your time.

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