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The journey hasn’t been easy, Abi Caswell said. She often worked 18‑hour days in the early months, but she describes the shift as rewarding and energising.
After Yasuko Tamaki's story went viral, reactions on social media have been split between admiration for her stamina and concern about what the Guinness World Record she earned represents.
Multiple commenters said the behaviour of the HR department -- offering no timeline or official explanation -- was a red flag, advising the employee to create documented evidence through email before resigning.
Modhura Roy moved from Pune to London with her husband and daughter in March 2020 after working in India for 7.5 years. Recalling her time in the country, she said that she often had to work long hours during weekday and even over the weekends. In London, the consulting principal clocks in at 9 am and logs out by 6 pm.
The bioprocess engineer at a biotech firm contrasted the experience sharply with her former employer in the US, where she said she prioritised work over her physical and mental health for nearly two years and ended up being laid off without any support.
'My first tailor, a lady, was forced to quit by her husband because I praised her,' Chris H said. He added that his company has received orders worth lakhs, but since workers keep quitting, he has not been able to fulfil them, leading to severe losses.
The viral post triggered a discussion on worsening workplace dynamics, where employees seeking legitimate medical leave face suspicion, humiliation, or pressure to justify their illness with documentation.
Among the beneficiaries is a couple — both employees of the company — who were jointly awarded a 1,550‑square‑foot home.
'It is scary. I don't know what the future holds, but what I know is that I can always get a job in another five years, but what I can't get back is this moment, the energy, the youth, and the fire in me to explore the world,' former Oracle developer and content creator Vanathi S said.
Describing the exchange, the employee wrote: 'That whole conversation sounded like a breakup that’s about to happen.'
Metaview AI CTO Shahriar Tajbakhsh also confirmed that the company plans to submit more H-1B petitions in the next lottery, despite US President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at tightening visa norms.
Applying for leave in India, Kaustav Bannerjee said, felt like 'the biggest challenge' in an employee’s life. 'Nobody is willing to approve it.' Life in Germany, however, is vastly different. 'I cannot even start to praise the numerous good things,' he added.
The chief product officer based in California also believes that personal priorities must override professional ones when necessary. For example, before his mother passed away in 2023, Jeetu Patel spent eight weeks at her side in the hospital, barely working.
The viral post has reignited conversations on social media about India’s demanding corporate culture, where late-night texts and unrealistic expectations are often normalised.
'To create a winning culture, we need to shake up our routines,' Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri said. He also outlined sweeping changes aimed at breaking away from 'business as usual' and reducing meeting fatigue.
The former five-star hotel employee said that during the three days of leave he requested, the managers allegedly withheld his salary and removed him from the roster. 'They acted like I was the irresponsible one for prioritising my health,' he said.
The employee said he is reluctant to switch jobs so early in his tenure and fears retaliation if he seeks an internal transfer.
'I didn’t do it for job security. I didn’t do it to get a raise. I did it because it’s who I am. I didn’t want her to die,' Debbie Stevens had said, referring to her boss.
The manager shared screenshots of his interaction with a freelance web designer who fell ill shortly after starting a project.
The woman alleged that the harassment intensified after she discreetly reported her manager’s 'shady' loan sanctioning practices to higher authorities, which led to an inquiry against him.
After the job interview, Beatriz Braga wrote to the CEO that she was organised and mindful of her and other's time. '(It's) very important to me,' she said.
Nicole Bernard Dawes believes her relentless work ethic should not extend to the team. 'I wanted to be present at things for my kids, and I wanted [it] to be okay for our team to be that way, too,' she said.
Interacting with social media users in the comments, the Noida-based founder of a fashion brand, Swapnil Srivastav, said that although employees have the option to take sick leaves, entrepreneurs cannot afford to do so.
The backlash reflects growing discontent among Chinese employees over long hours and denial of basic protections such as social insurance, as some companies cut corners to fund lavish lifestyles of their senior executives.
Screenshots uploaded by the employee show the team leader writing: 'I can’t imagine how shameless and selfish people I have in my team… pathetic.' He also accused her of 'ghosting' for missing his call after midnight.
