A recent Reddit post from an Indian employee has triggered a large wave of discussion about workplace expectations and the silent pressures many young professionals face today. It is not an extraordinary story. In fact, it is ordinary in a way that makes it unsettling. A young worker, already logged in and working from home, rushed to the hospital because his grandmother had been admitted to the ICU.
In the middle of this crisis, he missed a routine 9 PM client call.Instead of receiving understanding and empathy, he says he was met with yelling from his director, a salary deduction for the entire day, and later, a demand from management to explain why he had “taken offence” when he questioned unpaid overtime after completing a 16.5 hour shift.
This one incident has become a talking point because it captures something deeper. It reflects the growing discomfort around how modern flexibility has blurred boundaries, and how the idea of “being available” is often stretched far beyond reason.
Remote work sounds flexible. The reality often is not.
Since 2020, remote and hybrid models have been framed as solutions for better work life balance. Yet, several global and Indian studies paint a more complicated picture.A 2025 report in the journal Sustainability found that remote workers commonly experience digital overload, unrealistic supervisory expectations and constant connectivity. These factors significantly impact well being and productivity.Another study published in Frontiers in Psychology highlighted that remote working has blurred the separation between household and professional responsibilities, particularly for younger workers who shoulder multiple roles simultaneously.
In India, a recent job platform survey showed that more than 90 percent of employees were contacted outside working hours, even during sick leave or personal emergencies. According to findings from Gallup’s 2025 assessment, only 36 percent of fully remote workers said they were thriving, with many reporting exhaustion and emotional fatigue.The message from these studies is clear. Remote work is not inherently harmful, but the lack of defined boundaries often turns flexibility into a constant, unspoken expectation of availability.
The human cost when empathy is missing
In the viral Reddit post, the employee’s emergency and his attempt to communicate through a colleague were treated as minor inconveniences. His director allegedly shouted at him at night. His salary was deducted for missing a call. When he later put in a 16.5 hour shift for the same client and asked if overtime could compensate for the earlier deduction, he was reprimanded for being “frustrated”.
Researchers studying remote work say that the absence of empathy often creates environments where employees perform tasks but disconnect emotionally. The Times of India’s coverage on “quiet cracking” highlighted that lack of emotional support from managers directly contributes to disengagement and declining morale.Simply put, workplaces may believe they are being efficient. In reality, they are losing the motivation of their own workforce.
Is overwork the new normal?
For many sectors in India, especially IT, consulting, accounting and remote service roles, the idea of a fixed workday has faded. The expectation to be reachable late at night or early in the morning has become routine. Employees often hesitate to speak up about unpaid overtime or unfair deductions because they fear being labelled unprofessional or “not a team player”.Yet research consistently shows that long hours do not equal better performance. Studies from multiple countries confirm that excessive work hours lead to declining productivity, higher error rates and significant mental health risks.What makes the situation harder is the emotional pressure. Employees are not only expected to work more but also to stay cheerful, cooperative and available. Any attempt to draw boundaries is dismissed as overreaction.
Boundaries are not entitlement
India currently does not have a formal “right to disconnect” law. However, an Indeed survey reported by The Indian Express revealed that nearly 80 percent of Indian employers believe such a policy would improve employee morale and reduce burnout.Boundaries are not a luxury. They are a necessity for long term growth. The Reddit employee’s decision to stop working beyond shift hours and focus on his own professional development reflects a shift seen among many young professionals. People are no longer willing to trade mental health and dignity for the illusion of loyalty.
What companies must recognise now
- Define and respect working hours. Flexibility should not translate to round the clock availability.
- Treat emergencies with empathy. Supporting employees in genuine crises builds trust and loyalty.
- Compensate overtime fairly. Long hours should not be treated as normal workflow.
- Build a culture of psychological safety. Employees should be able to communicate concerns without fear.
- Prioritise wellbeing over optics. True workplace culture is built on consistent behaviour, not posters.
A closing reflection
The viral Reddit post became popular because it reflects the everyday struggles of many young Indians who are trying to build careers while dealing with unpredictable workloads and rigid expectations. It forces us to ask a difficult but necessary question.If an organisation cannot offer empathy in moments of crisis, why should employees offer unconditional availability in moments of convenience?Workplaces that value sustainable productivity must rethink what they expect from workers and what they offer in return. Because the future of work is not just about where we work. It is about how we are treated while we work.