A Reddit post by a young professional describing late-night work during their notice period has generated discussion online around workload, workplace expectations and employee dependency.
The post, shared on the r/IndianWorkplace forum under the title, “GenZ doesn’t work it’s 1AM and I’m still in office. The entire floor is empty,” detailed how the employee remained alone in the office at 1 am to complete month-end responsibilities.
The user said the situation arose because they were the only individual handling a specific set of tasks. “I had some month end closings to tend to. I’m the only one who can do that work on the floor,” they wrote.
Reflecting on the experience, the employee added, “Never become too important at work – lesson learnt,” suggesting that being solely responsible for critical work had led to increased pressure without support.
They also raised concerns about compensation for extended hours. “No overtime allowance because ‘we didn’t ask you to work late’ but who gave me the volumes huh?” the post read.
Workload during notice period
The employee explained that despite being on their notice period, they were expected to complete all responsibilities independently. “I’m on my notice so I’m closing things once and for all. Nobody on the floor wants to take up my work,” they wrote.
They said the situation persisted even though colleagues were aware of the workload involved. According to the post, others on the team had avoided taking over the responsibilities due to the volume of work.
The employee acknowledged that they enjoyed their role, stating, “I genuinely love it. It’s just what it is, which is why I’m good at what I do.” However, they added, “Never fall in love with your work – lesson learnt again.”
‘Keyman risk’ and lack of backup
The post described what the employee referred to as a “keyman risk”, where one individual becomes essential to operations without a contingency plan.
They said even senior colleagues had identified the issue. “We’re running a keyman risk with you… I’ll discuss with your manager about your backups,” a senior reportedly told them. However, the employee claimed no backup system was implemented.
“They’re gonna replace me with an outsider and get them to clean this mess. I know it,” the user wrote, expressing doubts about how the transition would be managed.
As part of the exit process, the employee said they were required to document their entire workflow. “They want me to puke out my learnings on a set of Excels and Word documents, detailed end to end,” they wrote.
They added that those expected to take over the role underestimated its complexity, noting that their “replacements” were not handling the work full-time.
Amid the criticism, the employee credited a former mentor for helping them build their skills. “I was very very fortunate to have a really good mentor who helped me to pick up things,” they wrote, adding that the mentor’s guidance had played a key role in their professional growth.
They also shared advice received from another manager: “You learnt your lessons. Remember, it’s not your fault. Your manager doesn’t view it the way you know, and you did your job by informing them. Finish your work, don’t take too much stress, and get done with it once and for all.”
The employee said their experience had also highlighted a gap between internal recognition and external demand, noting that recruiters had shown interest in their work experience.
The post resonated with several users, many of whom shared similar experiences of heavy workloads and lack of support.
One user commented, “I once worked 20 hrs continuously and then slept for one hour to attend the standup again when I was a fresher.”
Another questioned the impact on personal life, writing, “Do you have family? What do they think of you working so late during your notice period?”
“Too many lessons learnt in one post. Working extra in notice period is straight up diabolical,” a third remarked.
Meanwhile, a user reprimanded the employee and wrote, “If you are working at 1 am you are already a retard. There’s no reason to work that long.”