12-hour days with commute, no hobbies: Employee slams corporate culture in viral tweet

The woman's tweet prompted discussions on work-life balance. (Representational)

A corporate employee's candid reflections on the toll of modern work culture have struck a chord with many. The woman’s tweet, which capture the exhaustion and lack of personal fulfillment experienced by countless workers, have sparked widespread discussion about the balance between productivity and personal well-being on social media.

In a viral tweet, the employee encapsulated the relentless grind of corporate life:

"Corporate is literally taking 12 hours of my time in a day including traveling and all I do is come home and sleep. This is scary because it looks productive but it's like being a dead puppet with no hobbies or self-love,” the user wrote in a tweet that quickly went viral with over 3 lakh views.

for the first time in my life I'm sad about my tweet being a banger, I am sorry if you relate to this too, things will be better and we will find ourselves:)

— ish (@yourfavish) June 27, 2024

“I wake up at 6 in the morning, get ready and leave for the office by 7:30 so I can reach by 9:30, I leave office by 6 in the evening, sometimes 6:30, 7 of course, then I travel back home and reach by 9:15 something, then I eat food by 9:45/10, then I sleep by 11 because early morning,” she wrote.

i wake up at 6 in the morning, get ready and leave for the office by 7 30 so I can reach by 9 30, i leave office by 6 in the evening, sometimes 6 30, 7 ofcourse, then i travel back home and reach by 9 15 something, then I eat food by 9 45/10, then I sleep by 11 bc early morning.

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— ish (@yourfavish) June 27, 2024

Following the overwhelming response to the initial tweet, the employee shared a follow-up message, expressing a mix of surprise and sorrow at how many people identified with their plight:

"For the first time in my life I'm sad about my tweet being a banger, I am sorry if you relate to this too, things will be better and we will find ourselves,” she wrote.

The tweet ignited conversations in the comment section about the need for systemic changes in the corporate world. Many argue for more flexible working hours, remote work options, and increased support for mental health and well-being.

“That's true, that is why being financially independent is never actually about the money, it's about freedom, freedom of one's time. Achievement of financial independence through just a job is a bit of a difficult task,” one user wrote.

“It's very weird kind of toxicity I've noticed in corporate. Even the people who had hobbies slowly sip into the cycle of corporate and lose touch with everything they resonated with. And, it's addictive,” a second commented.

A third suggested: "Maybe it's time to sneak in a little "you time" between all those spreadsheets and meetings."