Yesterday, FTVLive told you that KTNV (Las Vegas) Anchor Kelsey McFarland worked a mega shift of Christmas Eve to help her co-workers have some time off. McFarland solo anchored ALL the newscasts at the Scripps station on Christmas Eve starting at 4:30 AM and ending at 11:35 PM.

We gave her props for carrying the load, so others could enjoy some time off.

Not everyone looked at it this way. Here is an email to FTVLive about McFarland’s long day at work.

Hi There

I'm sure you meant well enough praising the woman who worked 22 hours in one day but I'm hoping you'll consider this. Most on air employees are salaried. There is no overtime. Most newsrooms are cutting positions. When an employee says no to something these days they know management will notice. The people who say yes to everything are more valuable. But they're also setting us all up for failure. Failure to have decent wages and working conditions. Some managers even get bonuses based on how much money they can save on salaries. It's like The Hunger Games out here only reporters and fill in anchors are the ones going hungry. I'm sure this woman meant well but I'm also sure she's second string and trying desperately to get a spot on the anchor desk. Now that she's done this once she'll be asked to do it again. And anyone who doesn't will look like the bad guy. People are desperate to be on tv and when they do desperate things like this they make it worse for all of us. Honestly I'm surprised this doesn't go against some labor laws. It should.
Getting worked to death is not something to aspire to. Can't believe management does these things, but they do more than you'd think.

I get where the emailer is going, but I think they miss the mark. I have not talked to Kelsey McFarland, but I am sure that she was not assigned to work every show on Christmas Eve. My guess is that she volunteered to do it and wanted to help out her co-workers.

The emailer writes,’…but I'm also sure she's second string and trying desperately to get a spot on the anchor desk.”

Look, if you can do something to get noticed and it helps advance your career, good for you. Back when I started in my first job, I worked my ass off to show my bosses that it was a job I was serious about. I worked some very long hours for little pay and worked my way up through the business.

As I said, I understand what the emailer is saying, but at the same time, I don’t think anyone should be shunned for hard work. I don’t like working in a job in which everyone is paid the same and everyone works the same amount of time.

I like a place where hard work pays off.

There is a reason that FTVLive has gone over 6 years without taking a day off. Our goal is to work harder than the other guys and we are determined to do just that.

The most important thing is to love what you do. We’re guessing that Kelsey McFarland loves her job and really didn’t mind the long day at all.