Boss demands 24X7 availability, even on weekends. Employee's viral complaint triggers strong comments
In many Indian workplaces, the line between professional and personal time is becoming increasingly hazy. A frustrated employee recently turned to the subreddit
Indian Workplaces
to vent about a troubling expectation imposed by their manager—being reachable at all hours, even on weekends.
The employee explained that their manager had informally instructed the team to stay available on platforms like Teams and Outlook, even beyond regular work hours. Although the manager claimed they weren't asking anyone to 'work' after hours, they made it clear that if a message or email came through, it needed a prompt response—regardless of the time. The employee, dismayed by the demand, pointed out that availability outside scheduled work hours wasn't part of their job agreement. Even more disturbing to them was that none of their colleagues seemed concerned or willing to question it.
Online Community Weighs In
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The post quickly drew attention from fellow Redditors, many of whom criticized the unrealistic expectations. One commenter observed that no business truly needs its employees to be available 24/7. According to them, most messages and emails can easily wait until the next business day. Deadlines, in their view, are often arbitrary, and emergencies should be the only valid reason for out-of-hours contact.
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Another user sarcastically asked if the original poster was employed at ISRO, hinting that such rigid availability might only be justified in life-or-death or rocket science-level work. The original poster responded with dry humor, remarking that their manager seemed to believe they were running a high-stakes operation. In reality, they provided financial consulting services to international clients. The job involved one weekly call with the global team, after which team members worked independently on their assigned projects. Previously, they would send status updates weekly, but under this manager, a new rule required daily updates—a practice the employee criticized as excessive micromanagement.
Toxic Culture Rooted in Cost-Cutting?
Others in the discussion speculated that the company might be avoiding the cost of hiring additional staff by pressuring existing employees to be available round the clock. One commenter cynically remarked that the manager was likely inflating his own performance reviews by claiming cost savings, aiming for a quick promotion.
A word of caution also surfaced in the thread—many suggested avoiding open confrontation. Employees, they warned, risk being threatened with termination if they speak out. Instead, one user advised simply not responding to after-hours messages unless absolutely necessary and observing how the situation evolves.
This post sheds light on a broader issue of unhealthy expectations in corporate environments, where work-life boundaries are increasingly disregarded in the name of productivity.
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