Indian Engineers Are Saying No To 6-Day Work Weeks, Even For ₹1 Crore & CEOs Aren’t Happy

For the longest time, hustle culture was glorified in India. Professionals, especially engineers and corporate employees would proudly say things like, “I haven’t taken a vacation in years” or “I sleep for only 4 hours because work is life”. But times have changed. The younger workforce is no longer willing to sacrifice their health and personal lives for a paycheck – no matter how big it is.

Recently, Varun Vummadi, CEO of GigaML, took to X to express his frustration about hiring engineers in India. He wrote:

“I’ve noticed a pattern in hiring engineers for our Indian office. Even with a base salary of ₹1 crore, many are unwilling to work hard. A significant number of engineers with 3–8 years of experience are reluctant to work six days a week.”

Have a look:

The tweet quickly went viral, and people online had a lot to say about it. While some agreed that high salaries should come with extra commitment, most people pointed out that the era of endless work hours and weekend sacrifices is over.

People also highlighted that passion and ownership play a crucial role in motivation. If employees feel a sense of belonging and purpose, they will naturally go the extra mile.

Have a look at some of the responses here:

This discussion raises an important question: should employees be expected to work beyond the standard workweek just because they are paid well?

What do you think?

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