Are you working in a service/contracting company? Sometimes the issue is with the company's agreement with the client, as in the services agreement specifies X number of hours per contractor at Y rate, etc., not just "we agree to deliver you the thing by such and such date." It can cause weird patterns. Same is true if similar guidelines are handed down from corporate HQ. It's entirely possible you are being given an impossible task so they have a reason to fire you, but I wouldn't rule out overall structural defects in the way work is managed, leading to a situation where it becomes impossible for individuals to actually do their jobs.
Yeah, sounds familiar. It's a tough situation. There's really no way around it that doesn't have some risks. If you're honest with your boss, you risk being fired for sticking your neck out. If you try and inflate hours too much, you risk getting fired for lying. You do nothing, you risk getting fired for "underperforming." In a perfect world, you just point out what you just said to me and let management figure it out, but that's not likely to make you any friend in the long run. I'd start shopping around for jobs, not because you're for sure going to be fired, but it would be good to know if you have options. Remember, your company won't reward you for loyalty. If your job becomes redundant/unnecessary, you'll be fired no matter how well you do. Just make sure you don't give them a reason to fire you with cause.
deleted by creator
Are you working in a service/contracting company? Sometimes the issue is with the company's agreement with the client, as in the services agreement specifies X number of hours per contractor at Y rate, etc., not just "we agree to deliver you the thing by such and such date." It can cause weird patterns. Same is true if similar guidelines are handed down from corporate HQ. It's entirely possible you are being given an impossible task so they have a reason to fire you, but I wouldn't rule out overall structural defects in the way work is managed, leading to a situation where it becomes impossible for individuals to actually do their jobs.
deleted by creator
Yeah, sounds familiar. It's a tough situation. There's really no way around it that doesn't have some risks. If you're honest with your boss, you risk being fired for sticking your neck out. If you try and inflate hours too much, you risk getting fired for lying. You do nothing, you risk getting fired for "underperforming." In a perfect world, you just point out what you just said to me and let management figure it out, but that's not likely to make you any friend in the long run. I'd start shopping around for jobs, not because you're for sure going to be fired, but it would be good to know if you have options. Remember, your company won't reward you for loyalty. If your job becomes redundant/unnecessary, you'll be fired no matter how well you do. Just make sure you don't give them a reason to fire you with cause.