VOIWORLD/DESK
A LinkedIn post by Shivam Dubey, who works in tech recruitment, has gone viral for highlighting the difference between how time off is viewed in India and Europe.
Dubey shared that his European colleague took a 3-week vacation without anyone questioning it. But when he took just 2 days off in India, he was immediately asked:
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“What happened?”
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“Will you be available on call?”
He pointed out that while leave policies may exist, the real issue is mindset.
“Leave is not a favour. It’s a right. Rest is not laziness. It’s recovery. And burnout should not be normal,” he wrote. His post struck a chord with many Indian professionals, especially young workers.
Many agreed that there’s a pressure to always be available in Indian work culture, and time off often comes with guilt. One user said, “This starts at the fresher level and continues when they become seniors.” Another wrote, “Time off is a need, not a bonus. We must stop glorifying overwork.”
Several shared personal examples:
“If we don’t answer calls on Sunday, we have to explain it on Monday.”
“Work-life balance is still hard to achieve in the Indian industry.”
Dubey’s post seems to reflect a growing desire for change — where being constantly available isn’t seen as a sign of dedication, and rest isn’t viewed as weakness.
But as many pointed out, real change has to start from the top — with leadership setting better norms and encouraging healthy work habits.
