Gen Z rejects job offer after being asked to work occasionally on Saturdays; internet says ‘huge respect'
Gen Z kids have no patience, no loyalty, no hunger," a LinkedIn user Riya Dadhich - an HR professional - says that she has often heard this. However, her interaction with a 25-year-old woman, whose bold yet "respectful rejection" of a job offer left her heaping praise on Gen Z - the demographic cohort born between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s - has challenged that notion.
Dadhich, who is a Talent Acquisition Specialist at Firstsource, feels that "they're not the problem, and are instead the correction".
In her LinkedIn post, Dadhich recalled her interaction with the 25-year-old candidate who turned down a job offer after being asked if she was open to working occasional Saturdays. Her response – 'I'm commited to delivering my best - but I don't want a career that burns me out by 30" - is now earning widespread praise online.
The HR professional stated that initially, she felt "irritated," but later developed "deep respect" for the candidate as she voiced what many young professionals feel, and what many seasoned workers never dared to say out loud.
"Because let's call it what it is: She had the guts to say what many of us never could. We were taught to stay silent. To smile while working late. To see burnout as ambition. To say yes when we should've said no.
And now?," she wrote.
The post ends with a striking line that many are calling a generational wake-up call:
"Maybe it's the culture we survived and now subconsciously try to uphold.
It made me tougher. No. It made us tired.
They're the correction," she wrote.
As the post gains traction, it's becoming a rallying point for conversations around mental health, work-life balance, and the evolving definition of ambition in the modern workplace.
A user wrote: "Oof, this one hits harder than a Monday morning meeting invite!
Love how you've put the 'corporate cult' under the microscope — Gen Z isn't here to sip the coffee, they're here to stir the pot."\
Another said: "This is so relatable. I was offered a similar job – six days working, no weekend off. I didn't take it forward to talk about the pay. I did consider taking the role because it is difficult as a fresher to find a job, but then I thought about it a lot.
Even though I want to be independent soon and start earning, I don't want that at the expense of my mental health. I want a job that values work-life balance.
I did try to negotiate with them about my day off or a change in the department but unfortunately, rules were rules.
At first, I was regretting my decision to turn them down, but I think my future self will thank me for it. I completely respect the company's rules, but I have to think about myself first."
A third user said: "I agree, although we were taught to stay quiet, say yes, and equate burnout with success. Gen Z challenges that and honestly, good for them.
Their courage to speak up is something many of us never had. That said, there are times their approach can come off a bit sharp, and it does hurt – especially when experience is dismissed too quickly.
Maybe it's not entitlement. It's evolution, with room on both sides to grow."
First Published: 4 May 2025, 09:27 AM IST
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
29 minutes ago
- News18
How Gen Z and AI Are Redefining Astrology in India: The Rise of AstroTech
Last Updated: Gen Z and AI are rewriting the future of astrology in India—making it smarter, more personal, and deeply relevant for today's digital generation. In India, where astrology has long guided personal and societal decisions—from marriage to career to investments—a new era is dawning. A powerful convergence of Gen Z's digital fluency and artificial intelligence is reshaping how astrology is experienced, accessed, and understood. What was once viewed as an esoteric, often static tradition is being transformed into an intelligent, interactive, and emotionally resonant service—available at your fingertips. At the heart of this transformation is Gen Z, a generation that grew up with technology, questions norms, and seeks deeper meaning. 'Gen Z is our fastest-growing user base, growing at a staggering 11% month-over-month," shares Punit Pandey, Founder and CIO of AstroSage AI, one of India's leading AstroTech platforms. 'These users aren't looking for generic sun sign horoscopes—they want personalized, empathetic insights that fit into their fast-paced, emotionally complex lives." For Gen Z, astrology is no longer just about prediction; it's about personal narrative. Queries on AstroSage AI are dominated by themes like career uncertainty, mental health, toxic relationships, and spiritual healing—signs of a generation seeking clarity, not clichés. To meet this demand, AstroSage AI has built a powerful backend where AI-driven astrologers analyze celestial data from over a billion birth charts and real-time user behaviour to offer hyper-personalized, conversational insights. 'These aren't cookie-cutter predictions," Pandey explains, 'They're intuitive responses to deeply personal life moments. On any given day, our AI handles over 500,000 user questions—each one tailored to individual astrological patterns and emotional contexts." Indeed, a new crop of young Indian developers is decoding ancient texts, building tools that use machine learning to match birth charts, and crafting interactive readings with generative AI. What once required visits to traditional astrologers and deciphering Sanskrit mantras can now be done through immersive mobile apps, voice assistants, and even AI avatars. Reinventing the Astrological Experience AstroSage AI has embraced this shift by reimagining the interface of astrology. Long-form horoscopes are still available, but Gen Z prefers something more immediate and immersive. 'We've launched AI avatars with distinct personalities like Krishnamurti for KP astrology and Dr. Raman for classical Vedic," Pandey shares. 'Users can choose the voice that best fits their worldview." With support for 11 Indian languages and several international ones like French, Japanese, and Portuguese, the platform is also taking Indian astrology global. Bindra echoes the potential of such innovation, noting, 'AstroTech has the potential to transform a centuries-old tradition into something truly future-facing, combining cultural continuity with technological innovation in a uniquely Indian way." A Tech-Driven Spiritual Future—With Caution But this rapid evolution isn't without its challenges. Bindra cautions: 'AI still has a propensity to hallucinate, and when dealing with sensitive belief systems like astrology, accuracy and trust become paramount." Issues around data quality in Indic languages, ethical AI behavior, and emotional sensitivity are critical to address. AstroSage AI, which has crossed 65 million app downloads and handles over 1 million daily active users, is tackling these concerns head-on. 'Every AI response is reviewed for accuracy and empathy," says Pandey. 'We've built filters, added disclaimers, and offered direct access to human astrologers. Our goal is guidance—not dependence." What's Next: Proactive Astrology and Predictive AI Looking ahead, the future of AstroTech goes beyond reactive consultations. 'Our next leap is proactive, agentic AI—autonomous avatars that track live astronomical data, user patterns, and even social sentiment to offer preemptive guidance—before a question is even asked," Pandey reveals. This signals a shift not just in how astrology is delivered, but in when and why. Imagine a world where your digital astrologer nudges you before a stressful day at work or suggests introspection before a tough conversation. The AstroTech revolution is more than a trend—it's a new paradigm. What once lived in almanacs and temples is now in your pocket, driven by data, shaped by empathy, and inspired by tradition. As Bindra aptly puts it, 'This evolution isn't about replacing belief systems, but about augmenting them… and perhaps, in the process, creating a global blueprint for how ancient systems and modern intelligence can co-evolve." For India and the world, the stars haven't changed. But how we understand them is being rewritten by a new generation, one swipe at a time. About the Author Swati Chaturvedi Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she's a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 More
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
"Zips Gone, Locks Missing": Furious IndiGo Passenger Posts About Damaged Bags, Airline Responds
A Deloitte senior analyst took to LinkedIn to express his frustration with IndiGo's alleged mishandling of his luggage and subpar customer service. In a scathing post on LinkedIn, Abhishek Kumar detailed his unpleasant experience on a recent flight from Delhi to Hyderabad, sharing photos of his damaged luggage. Upon arrival, he discovered his checked bag was severely damaged, with torn zippers, missing locks, and tampered contents. Mr Kumar also reported that several items were missing, and the bag weighed noticeably less than when he checked it in at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. "Your service quality is dropping faster than the economies of South Sudan and Burundi combined — and trust me, that's saying something. My recent flight from Delhi to Hyderabad was nothing short of a disaster. My luggage looked like it had survived a WWE match — zips gone, locks missing, contents clearly tampered with, and surprise surprise: items missing," Mr Kumar wrote on LinkedIn, along with photos of the damaged luggage. He also noted that his bag weighed over 14 kg at check-in at Delhi's IGI Airport, but by the time he received it in Hyderabad, it weighed barely 13 kg. Mr Kumar expressed his frustration with IndiGo's support team, stating that he had been pursuing them for a resolution with no response, likening it to dealing with an unresponsive party who owes him money, and described their service as pathetic. "I've been chasing your team for a resolution like it's a toxic ex who owes me money — and yet, radio silence. July is around the corner, so do let me know if I need to start a '16 Somvaar' fast to get even a decent response from you," he added. IndiGo responded to the viral complaint, asking him to share his contact details and PNR via direct message so they could better understand his experience and get in touch with him promptly. "Thank you for sharing your PNR and concern in detail, Mr Kumar. Please allow us some time while we look into it. We request your kind patience in the interim," IndiGo replied after his response. Earlier, a Goa-based woman, Vaishali Sharma, lodged a similar complaint with IndiGo after her checked baggage arrived damaged on a flight from Goa to Delhi. Despite repeated follow-ups, she claimed the airline barely responded.
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
BigBasket plans to launch 10-minute food delivery by March 2026 to compete with quick commerce rivals
The Tata Group-backed online e-commerce platform BigBasket plans to launch its 10-minute food delivery services across India by the end of the financial year 2025-26, to compete against other quick commerce rivals in the Indian market, reported the news agency Reuters, citing co-founder Vipul Parekh. According to the agency report, the grocery giant is planning to take on Swiggy's Snacc, Blinkit's Bistro and Zepto Cafe, which are currently delivering food and snack items to consumers in less than 15 minutes. The co-founder told the agency that the company aims to target the customer base of other firms like Swiggy and Zomato while also accessing a new pool of customers. As companies shift to the booming quick commerce industry, big firms like Blinkit, Swiggy, Flipkart, and Zepto are already competing against each other to capture higher market share. BigBasket also plans to use dark stores to roll out its upcoming 10-minute food delivery services. The small warehouses, which are used to store the items required for the delivery, are also known as a 'dark store' where riders show up with their two-wheelers to pick up groceries or food for the delivery to the designated customer. The company plans to expand its dark store operations to 1,000-1,200 stores by the end of 2025, compared to its current level of 700 stores across the nation, according to the agency report. BigBasket reportedly launched its pilot food delivery service in Bengaluru one month ago and now plans to expand its operations to 40 dark stores by the end of July 2025, according to the agency report, citing the co-founder. Vipul Parekh, the co-founder of BigBasket, is now in charge of the company's marketing and finance functions, according to his LinkedIn profile. Data shows that 5 to 10 per cent of BigBasket's customers are opting to combine quick-food items with their normal online orders. The company expects this number to further rise in the upcoming time period, as per the news report. Customers using this facility will be able to access Starbucks to Qmin, both Tata Group's coffee and food businesses. According to the news agency's report, no other restaurants will be partnered with the quick commerce service. However, the co-founder rejected the claims of BigBasket seeking external investors for fundraising and said that the company reportedly plans to go public in the next 18 to 24-month period. 'One of the advantages we have is, being a part of Tata Group, you have enough internal capital available,' said Parekh, cited in the news agency's report.
