If you think working conditions and long hours are bad now - 100s of years ago, the great churches of the UK were built with volunteer labour.
Skilled workers, like stonemasons had enough free time to go help build a cathedral on their off days.
Even peasants didn't work everyday of the week.
Skilled workers like blacksmiths and stonemasons could work 3-4 days a week and have comfortable lives.
From my perspective (in the UK) I would never consider working extra hours "to get ahead" of the competition. If I work extra hours over my 37.5 a week it's for the double time that overtime collects.
I work in a medium wage job, and I just took 2 months off this summer (unpaid) to spend time with my toddler while they are at that transition phase (and to do some work on my house) and I didn't have to drop into any of my savings or assets, I just had to plan 6 months ahead.
Taxes wise I pay about 15-20% out of my wages. Private healthcare insurance is so low I don't notice paying for my whole family. Its maybe 3% of my monthly pay. I had one health issue in the past 10 years, I paid for a private consultation to jump the NHS queue (£250) and he put me at the top of his NHS waiting list so the £6000 to get it fixed privately cost nothing and I only had to wait 6-8 weeks for a slot (it wasn't life threatening, just extremely painful) I go private for dental too, just pay as you go, about £200 a year. Over the past decade I got 2 implants (£3000 each), some straightening (about £1500), some whitening (came free with the implants). My toddler goes to that dentist (young children are free, they just bill the NHS).
I work flexible hours so if I go in early or stay late I can accumulate leave hours on top of the 30 days (+12 holiday days) I get a year. I build that up and take a week of every 6 to 8 weeks and head to my holiday home in the north of Southern Ireland (I know that sounds weird, but just look at map) with my family, where I spend my time walking around forest parks, beaches and to the pub, when I'm not sitting in front of the fire, reading a book and burning the now illegal, but still available, national heating source of Ireland (peat aka turf).
On top of that, I take two two-week long holidays somewhere sunny in Europe, where I stay in an Airbnb apartment with a couple of bedrooms, a massive terrace and about 10 steps to a pool.
I have significant assets compared to my peers, but to live like this I work a median wage job, my missus doesn't work, and I don't need to dip into my assets or savings for anything.
I prioritise my family life over my work life and I wouldn't have it any other way. My child, and experiencing his life and growth is more important to me than scaling the ladder at work. I live a good and happy life and I am there for my child's growth milestones and will be for any other children I have.
I honestly don't understand the American way of working. Why work hard for a company that can fire you at anytime, expects you to do extra hours for no compensation, whilst paying half your wages in taxes and health insurance that doesn't even cover you for any health problems you have.
I do understand working for yourself and building your own business and putting the extra graft in, but for someone else, nope.