YES. And to an extent, just punching the clock is a defense mechanism in work environments where low autonomy + high demands are creating an environment for burnout. But I've seen bright-eyed 23-year-old engineers suffer vicious burnout by trying to tackle the low autonomy part ("Hey boss, what if we did X? Hey boss, I put together this slidedeck for this feature that would be so cool! Hey boss, check out this mockup I did of a site redesign!") and then after hitting a brick wall enough times they become embittered and disconnected.

I think it's because equity creates a belief in young workers that the company is "theirs" -- but after you've realized that startups are like any other job where you trade time for money while implementing the Highest Paid Person's Opinion, you lose that passion quickly.

I checked out about halfway through my run at my current job. I think after the third time I suggested a tool or process change and the reply from the lead was "we've never done it that way" at a startup it dawned on me that this company will never accomplish anything technically interesting.

Incidentally, there's a bonus coming up for a major milestone and I'm seriously considering handing in my two weeks notice after the direct deposit clears. The CEO tried to sell the whole equity angle, but I honestly don't see any resume improvement potential here and that's all I really care about.

I've worked at companies that gave a shit and I just don't think this is one of them.

I don't see anything wrong with seeking a job with which I can identify.

The problem comes when I stick it out for too long at a place that does not share my core values. In my experience it is a losing battle. Trying to match what I believe in with a whole company is really tough. I feel burnout is to be expected at times during my career while I figure things out. A little break, some consideration, and new goals help me move forward and find work I can enjoy.

You might be on to something here, I guess it's too much to ask for some kind of meaning in your work when you're there for 8hrs a day.

This is a point I was starting to make at the last segment of the piece, but my editor (also my wife) encouraged me to edit that down from 1500 words to what's there and break off the piece about the passionate versus the professional into a follow-up. From the feedback I've been getting, it seems to be something worth exploring.