‘Wrong priorities, nothing to brag about’: Internet reacts to LinkedIn post showing startup founder working on a laptop at his wedding

At times, we tend to over-glorify the tendency to blur lines between professional and personal life. However, people today are realising the importance of work-life balance and there have been ample studies that show how important it is to balance work and professional life for your overall wellbeing. But for some people, the concept of work-life balance doesn't exist and they are ardent followers of the 'hustle culture'.

A recent LinkedIn post featuring Casey Mackrell, co-founder of the AI startup Thoughtly, has once again sparked the debate about work-life balance after it showed him working on his laptop during his own wedding.

The post, shared by his fellow co-founder Torrey Leonard, aimed to highlight Mackrell’s dedication to his work. Leonard explained that the company had just landed a new client with a two-week deadline for a project, coinciding with Mackrell’s wedding day. “So, here he is wrapping up a pull request. At his own wedding. Congrats Casey—now please, go take some time off,” Leonard wrote, seemingly applauding Mackrell’s commitment.

However, the reaction from internet users has been far from celebratory. Many found the scenario both shocking and concerning, suggesting it reflects a troubling trend in modern work culture. One commenter quipped, “Divorce papers being sent to his LinkedIn inbox so he actually sees them,” while another remarked, “If this isn’t satire, this work ethic should neither be publicised nor applauded. It doesn’t say much about the company either if he was the only person that could deal with this that day.”

People were quick to label the situation as a glaring example of poor work-life balance. “This is actually sad and not a flex to be applauded,” one user noted and added, “To me, it shows very poor work-life balance and wrong priorities.” Another user commented on the post, “Utterly bizarre to post this. This is nothing to brag about. This guy is at his wedding working on his laptop, and you’re congratulating him?”

The mixed reactions have sparked discussions on social media about the pressures many professionals face in high-stakes environments. As deadlines loom and expectations rise, some feel compelled to prioritise work over personal moments that matter. As more people share their thoughts, one thing is clear: work should never come at the cost of life’s most significant moments.