When exactly did hard work become a complete joke?

This happens whenever work is the ends and not the means in your life.
If you just work extra hard for work sake people will just use you.
Protip if your boss wants you to do extra hours, come on weekends, don't use vacations, etc. you are not at fault, your boss is incompetent and can't manage workflow and employees and you are covering up his incompetence for him.
Just do your job the best you can, nothing more, nothing less.

you know money is just digits on a screen it doesnt actually represent what we produce