History Main / MarriedToTheJob

* The title character of SpongeboSquarepants is very devoted to his job at the Krusty Krab. So devoted, in fact, that when he is forced to take a break in "Bummer Vacation," he [spoiler:goes ''nuts'']].

This is particularly common among military personnel, detectives, secret agents and doctors. Fictional architects also seem prone to this trope (and usually fall into the first category) for some reason.

* In IsaacAsimov's ''{{Foundation}}'' series, Hari Seldon's friend and colleague, Yugo Amaryl was only interested in developing psychohistory. He never married, didn't know any people aside from his collegues and died early from overwork.

* Lloyd Asplund from ''CodeGeass'' is a BunnyEarsLawyer who is wholly dedicated to the construction, maintenance, and development of the [[HumongousMecha Z-01 Lancelot]] to the point where he doesn't even acknowledge his fiancee-via-ArrangedMarriage as a romantic interest. He's not a bad guy, just socially clueless and monomaniacal.

* Scrooge's fiancee in ''AChristmasCarol'' twists his long hours and penny-pinching into "proof" that he doesn't love her enough. Most people automatically sympathize and side with Belle, ignoring the fact that the hard work comes from Scrooge wanting to care for and marry a poor girl without a dowry.

* In IsaacAsimov's ''{{Foundation}}'' series, Hari Seldon's friend and collegue, Yugo Amaryl was only interested in developing psychohistory. He never married, didn't know any people aside from his collegues and died early from overwork.
* Used tragically in ''Aldarian and Erendis'' in TheUnfinishedTales. Aldarian is the Crown Prince of Numenore and is always sailing to Middle-Earth for long periods of time. This eventually breaks down his marraige with Erendis who influences thier daughter Ancalimë to dislike men.

* Fairly common amongst Major Crimes in ''TheCloser''. Provenza and Pope both have had multiple divorces. Brenda has had one, and her devotion to the job strains her relationship with her boyfriend/fiancee/husband over the course of the series.

* In Jung Chang's autobiographical novel ''Wild Swans'', it's described that in China, in the early times of the Communist reigme, it was explicitly required for Party officers (like her father) to put their jobs before their families.
* Drill sergeants have markedly higher divorce rates, especially in Combat Arms OSUTs, which are much longer, more intensive and stressful than Basic Training. Due to the Uniformed Services Former Spouse Protection Act of 1982, the wife will get half of all pay, pension and benefits in the case of divorce unless found guilty of adultery, so some D.I.'s who fear they'll be unable to hold onto their marriage will attempt to catch their spouse cheating, putting additional strain on the relationship.

* In the ninth season, {{House}}'s "marriage" is pointed out by a patient, who is himself "married" to his job as a musician.
--> '''John Henry Giles''': "I know that look. I know that empty ring finger. You don't save someone who doesn't want to be saved unless you have something... anything. One thing. The reason other people have wives and families is that they don't have that one thing that hits them that hard and that true. I've got my music; you've got... this."

* It was implied in ''{{Taken}}'' that this was a contributing factor of Bryan's divorce. Although he did retire early to spend more time with his daughter.

In some cases, this concern is justified -- the character genuinely is spending too much time at work and is neglecting their other relationships and commitments, and the complaining spouse is genuinely in the right to call them out on it. This is particularly the case if the character has a career that, whilst it may be important, is not going to result in any fatalities or the Collapse of Western Civilization if they take a break now and then. In these cases, the character might be neglecting their significant others and relationships out out of a genuine desire to provide the best for their families, having completely missed the point that it'd probably be better for their families in the long run if they actually spend some time with them now and again. On the other hand, they might just be too obsessed with their career and the perks, privileges and powers they have, and have Forgotten What's Important. Or because they're simply a {{workaholic}}. If it's a happy story, then the character will gradually realize that they're focusing on the wrong things and resolve to make amends and spend more time with their loved ones; in a DownerEnding, the character will lose everyone who is important to her / him and quickly discover that it's LonelyAtTheTop.

** Harvey Dent in ''TheLongHalloween'' struggles with his marriage because of the many demands of his job as District Attorney, in addition to his own mental problems. At the end, it's revealed that his wife Gilda [[spoiler: may have been the serial killer who has been killing off memebers of the mob]] in order to help Harvey so that he "wouldn't have to work so much" and they could be together.

* In ''[[ThePrestige The Prestige]]'' both main characters suffer from this trope. Hugh Jackman's character Robert Angier even says out loud that he doesn't care about his deceased wife, but it pales in comparison to Christan Bale's dedication, wherein [[spoiler:twins literally switch places from time to time]], all so a certain magic trick's mystery is never figured out by anyone. This also results in a failed marriage, leading the wife to commit suicide.

* In IsaacAsimov ''{{Foundation}}'' series, Hari Seldon's friend and collegue, Yugo Amaryl was only interested in developing psychohistory. He never married, didn't know any people aside from his collegues and died early from overwork.

See also SalaryMan, {{Workaholic}} and CatsInTheCradle.

* Drill sergeants have markedly higher divorce rates, especially in Combat Arms OSUTs, which are much longer, more intensive and stressful than Basic Training. Due to UCMJ rules, the wife will get half of all pay, pension and benefits in the case of divorce unless found guilty of adultery, so some D.I.'s who fear they'll be unable to hold onto their marriage will attempt to catch their spouse cheating, putting additional strain on the relationship.

** Subverted in ''Discworld/{{Thud}}!'', where [[spoiler:he makes it his duty to return home in time to read "Where's My Cow?" to his son, no matter what he's doing at the time. This leads to his rampage in Koom Valley as he desperately yells out the words of the story, which Young Sam miraculously ''hears'' through the miles of caves between the house where Vimes' family is staying and Koom Valley.]]

* Liza Elliott is accused of this in ''Lady in the Dark''.

** Well, up until Gwen came along, no one but Susan really ''noticed'' that they didn't have functional relationships. [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretations It could have been a contributing factor in Susan going mad, though.]] And the one thing that is true is that they actually can't ''talk'' about their job to anyone - which is rather isolating, when you think about it; at least a surgeon can go home at the end of the day and tell his wife what his day was really like.

* On M*A*S*H Hawkeye's complete devotion to his career as a doctor is the reason given for his inability to make relationships last. He finds it easier to remain single and sleep with a different [[GirlOfTheWeek Girl of the Week]] each ep (there are hints that this was the case even before he was drafted into the army).

* {{Persona 4}} deconstructs this with the Protagonist's uncle, Ryotaro Dojima. While he doesn't have a wife [[spoiler:anymore]], he ''does'' have a young daughter, and because he spends so much time at work because of the serial murder case [[spoiler:along with trying to find the guy who ran over his wife]], he worries that he doesn't know how to raise Nanako properly. And to be fair, [[spoiler:[[IdiotBall he's not]] [[WhatAnIdiot entirely wrong]].]]