A charter company used to bend planning rules. Unrealistic schedules squeezed into the FTL's. That was the culture. Then they scheduled a 10 hour Greek Island out & back duty, coming home at 07.00. That same evening, report 21.00, they added a 15hour heavy crew out & back Africa night duty. The onboard crew rest area was a complete joke and impossible to gain rest/sleep. Pilots complained about this combination, but still did it. I was rostered it and refused. I said I'd do one or the other, but not both. I went to discuss it with the CP. I said it was impossible for me to sleep twice in 14 hours during the day time. If I was not rested and fit for the 2nd night flight I'd call myself off the flight. Did he want this at the last minute. He agreed and the combined schedule was removed. Other pilots wondered how this had happened, and also why it had been planned in the first place. No matter how/why, just stand up for common sense.
I can understand that in this day of 'pay by the hour contractors' it would be a lucrative combination over 2 night duties & 3 days; but the same payment could be earned over 3 proper day flights. My strength was the CP saw the common-sense and also understood my resistance. I expect he was a rare animal.