Strategy And Planning

Do Indian offices reward exhaustion? Founder says being available 24/7 is not really valuable, reveals what actually is

May 11, 2026
www.ETHRWorld.com
No Comments
  • Published On May 12, 2026 at 12:59 AM IST

< />In many Indian workplaces today, long hours are still quietly treated as a signal of seriousness, even when companies officially talk about <a id=” captionrendered=”1″ data-src=”https://etimg.etb2bimg.com/photo/131023217.cms” height=”442″ href=”https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/tag/productivity” keywordseo=”productivity” loading=”eager” source=”Orion” src=”https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/images/default.jpg” type=”General” weightage=”20″ width=”590″></img>productivity and balance. This gap between what is said and what is practiced has once again come into focus after a LinkedIn post by Nistha Tripathi, co-founder of education consulting firm 24NorthStar, questioned whether exhaustion is being mistaken for value in professional spaces.</p> <p>Tripathi described a situation that many employees in India may recognize. In her post, she wrote, “In India, you feel guilty for leaving work at 6 pm.” She went on to point out that this feeling does not really depend on performance or effort. Even if someone has finished their work, worked hard through the week, or even started their day very early, the pressure does not fully go away. She added, “Even if you’ve finished your work. Even if you worked your back off the whole week. Even if you came in at 7 am.”</p> <p>She also highlighted the subtle social pressure that follows, where even normal departures can be lightly questioned in a joking way. As she put it, “You’ll still get that subtle ‘half day today?’ joke.”</p> <h2>A different experience with European teams</h2> <p>Tripathi then contrasted this with what she observed while working with European teams. According to her, people there tend to follow a clearer boundary between work and personal time. She wrote, “Meanwhile, I got to work with a few European teams where people log off at 5.”</p> <p>What stood out to her was not just the timing, but the absence of guilt or explanation around it. She added, “No explanation. No guilt. Just… ‘See you tomorrow.’”</p> <p>Despite this structured shutdown, she noted that work did not suffer. She observed, “And the surprising part? Things still got done. Deadlines were met. No one flinched.”</p> <p>The post also touched on how Indian professionals working in multinational companies often align their schedules with global teams, especially in the US and Europe. This frequently results in late working hours and calls scheduled outside standard office timing.</p> <p>Tripathi wrote, “Most calls in Indian MNCs are still scheduled according to the convenience of US and European offices. Because it is assumed that Indian guy will take calls even at 10pm IST.”</p> <h2>The return-to-India adjustment for global professionals</h2> <p>She further reflected on how professionals returning to India after working abroad often experience a cultural shift in workplace expectations. According to her, this adjustment can feel harsh compared to more boundary-driven environments in the West. She noted, “To all the people who are planning to come back to India after a professional stint in the West, this is what stings the most. Be prepared to be micromanaged, mistrusted and misjudged for your priorities.”</p> <p>At the core of her post is a larger question about how workplaces measure value. Instead of linking worth to constant availability, she suggests that energy management and boundaries may be more meaningful indicators of real <a href=productivity.

She wrote, “Maybe it’s time we stop rewarding exhaustion and start respecting people who protect their energy.” She closed her point with a sharper observation that sums up the entire argument, “Because being available 24/7 doesn’t make you valuable. It means you are taken for granted.”

  • Published On May 12, 2026 at 12:59 AM IST

Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals.

Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox.

All about industry right on your smartphone!

  • Download the App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *