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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Michael Johnston was making six figures in a remote job he enjoyed when his second child was born.</li><li>He fell in love with <keyword id="23944982" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="full-time-parenting" source="keywords">full-time parenting</keyword> and his wife, a successful editor, was keen to keep working.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michael Johnston, 41, a <keyword id="23944981" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="stay-at-home-dad" source="keywords">stay-at-home dad</keyword> who lives in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Johnston's financial claims have been verified with documents. It has been edited for length and clarity. I graduated from Boston University in 2006 with a degree in mechanical engineering. I then got a job in the semiconductor industry. The role allowed me unlimited creative freedom and had crazy big budgets. Life was good. A few years into this amazing job, things shifted. The 2008 recession hit, and though I survived layoffs, everything changed. Money dried up for creative projects, and suddenly, I was doing paperwork all day. After my wife Maddie finished school, we wanted a fresh start. We moved coasts onto a ranch in California. I found a new role at KLA Corporation, in manufacturing, with much less paperwork. When my wife told me she was pregnant, I had a steady job with a manageable workload, but I traveled frequently to China, Taiwan, and South Korea. I was grateful for the income when our son Lincoln was born. <div type="image" title="Dad with baby in a carrier." height="4032" width="2268" msid="114981391" hostid="261"></div><h2>The impossible task of pandemic parenting</h2>Like many parents, March 2020 was a very difficult period for my family of three. Lincoln was around three years old, and suddenly my world narrowed to just four walls during lockdown. Instead of traveling and working in the office, my role was being permanently on the phone. I had meetings the entire day and would try to get my actual work done in the evening. Calls from around the world pushed late into the night. At some points, I worked almost 24 hours a day. Maddie, Lincoln, and I tried to maintain daily family life while we kept up with our careers. Now we were both fully remote, so we bought a beach house in Maine in 2020 and left California in 2021. But that wasn't the only reason we were moving back closer to home: our second baby was on the way. <div type="image" title="Michael Johnston and his kids." height="3357" width="1888" msid="114981168" hostid="261"></div><h2>Crunching numbers on <keyword id="21017792" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="paternity-leave" source="keywords">paternity leave</keyword></h2>I fully intended to go back to work after paternity leave. I was making six figures doing work that I loved — prior to the pandemic shift — and my team was great. But over 12 weeks of leave, I fell in love with being a full-time dad. If I was up at 3 a.m. I was comforting a sleepless kid, not fielding international calls. It was some of the best times we'd had as a family. My wife has a successful career in editorial work, and we began examining whether we could afford to be a one-salary family. We'd spent our early career days digging out of student and credit card debt from moving around. Right before kids, we'd finally paid off our debt, which was tough even with two incomes. Moving back to Maine was a major savings opportunity. We streamlined our spending on our mortgage, rental property, two cars, and everything else it takes to run a family in California. We no longer had to pay for flights back, preschool or daycare. We dug into what life would look like on one income, and my financial projections showed it was doable in Maine. We walk the kids to school and don't have a pricey commute. We no longer pay for any day care — a drastic change from the insanely California options at around $2,000 for one child. Maine also has free breakfast and lunch at school. <h2>Deciding to stay home</h2>It came down to how we viewed our work. After maternity leave, my wife was excited to see her coworkers and jump back into her job. I saw work as a means to an end. My future wasn't ever really tied up in my workplace. I'd missed so much of my first child's youngest years that I was determined not to repeat that with my second. On the work front, I'd used my degree for 17 years and accomplished what I wanted to. A week or two before the end of my leave, I set my team up for success and gave my boss my two weeks' notice. <div type="image" title="Michael Johnston and his family." height="1690" width="2253" msid="114981165" hostid="261"></div><h2>Settling into full-time dad life</h2>The first few months were awesome. We knew we'd made the right choice. I walked the kids to school every day and got to experience small moments I'd previously been too busy to enjoy. I did have misconceptions about stay-at-home parenting life. I thought I'd renovate our 1954 Airstream during naps. Instead, I get up at 5:30 a.m., make lunches, have a cup of coffee for 15 minutes in peace, and then get everyone ready for school. Once my oldest is at school, my new mission is potty training. I'm lucky to grab a shower during naptime. I clean and reset the house for the evening, getting dishes under control and dinner started. My wife and I always split the cores, her taking the mental labor of organizing school and social life comms and I did more physical chores. This is now just more official – I manage school runs and all the household tasks. When others find out I'm a stay-at-home dad, they always ask: "When are you going back to work?" Maybe I will, maybe I won't. If I do, I'll have different boundaries. I spent too long wrapped up in my job. We are trained to graduate, get a good job, work that job forever, then retire at 65. I plowed along for long enough. Now I know a corporate job isn't a mandatory trajectory. It was a choice. I'm happy doing something different. Correction: November 8, 2024 — A previous version of this story misstated that the Johnston family didn’t have a car. They do have a car in Maine.

I quit my 6-figure job to be a stay-at-home dad. After leaving California, we could afford to be a single-income family.

There have been ample reports on how <keyword id="19919711" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="gen-z" source="keywords">Gen Z</keyword> employees are doing things differently at workplaces and setting new trends. Be it opting for <keyword id="19901232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-life-balance" source="keywords">work-life balance</keyword> over a higher salary, taking leaves without guilt, saying no to micromanagement among other things, this generation appears to be creating a whole new culture. And what happens to those who try to oppose this new culture? They get schooled on the internet, of course. In a recent incident, a manager took to X (earlier called Twitter) and shared how one of his Gen Z employees took a one-week vacation to the mountains after going through a breakup. However, contrary to his expectation, various X users started accusing him of trivialising mental health issues by such statements. Read on to know what exactly happened. <h2>"He had a breakup" </h2> The man's tweet read, "One of my Gen z team members suddenly declared 1 week leave. It was a critical time of the project so I tried to reason. He did not budge. The leave was because he had a breakup and he wanted to go to the mountains to forget the breakup." When a user commented that it is better to give people leaves than deadlines, the manager replied, "Believe me it was one way communication. I had to deal with the repercussions on project." Several other tweets followed that sided with the Gen Z employee. "So according to you, mental health is nothing," a user wrote while another commented, "That’s a perfect reason to declare leave. Business is business, will go on as will other things." <div type="image" title="google (27)" msid="115042080" hostid="261" sizebytes="295800"></div> <h2>"Gen Z does things differently" </h2> The man also clarified in one of the tweets that he didn't fire the Gen Z employee and even promoted him for his good work. He wrote, "Mate. No need to assume the worst. The guy is still in my team and has even been promoted for his good work. I was just stating how gen z’s are doing things differently." While most users schooled the manager, there were some who supported him as well. A user wrote, "I'm a younger Millennial &amp; I’m appalled by the lack of respect so many of my peers have for professors (I finished school late; many were ten years younger). It’s not much for older generations who GIVE these opportunities to expect a little bit of gratitude &amp; deference." In a similar incident, another company's manager's tweet went viral in which he shared a screenshot of how his Gen Z employee notified him that he will be on leave for a week. The short and crisp leave application email read, "I will be on leave till November 8, 2024. Bye."

‘He had a breakup and took a one-week leave’: Manager shares about his Gen-Z employee, internet reacts

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A work-life balance is a priority for many.</li><li>It's generally thought of as the balance between time at work and personal time.</li></ul>The pursuit of a work-life balance is at the heart of so many workplace conversations.It's <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-workers-want-flexibility-fair-pay-survey-2024-5">what many Gen Zers want</a> from their jobs, and what workers cling to as their employers ask them to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-requiring-return-to-office-rto-mandate">return to the office</a>.It has generally become known as the balance between time at work and time off. But we should rethink that, according to some workplace specialists.People all work differently, and suggesting the best way to achieve equilibrium is to log off at 5 p.m. could be shortsighted and outdated."I don't think work-life balance exists," Dilan Gomih, the founder and CEO of the workplace performance and wellness consultancy Dilagence, told Business Insider. "It should be, How do you find time to strategically recharge?"<h2 id="29b08831-b634-46ae-825a-8d558c7ddf4f">The work-life unicorn</h2>Jeff Bezos talked about his dislike for the phrase "work-life balance" in 2021, calling it "debilitating" and telling employees that they should <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-work-life-balance-debilitating-phrase-career-circle-2021-7">think of work and life as a circle</a>. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ceos-who-hate-phrase-work-life-balance-prefer-alternative-views-2023-11">Other CEOs have opinions, too</a>, often favoring a different approach.In an interview at Vox's Code Conference in 2016, Bezos <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTYFEgXaRbU">said</a>: "I find that when I am happy at work, I come home more energized. I'm a better husband, a better dad, and when I'm happy at home, I come in a better boss, a better colleague."Some might say it's easy for billionaire bosses to say hours don't matter and that it's how energized you feel by work that counts.However, provided work doesn't overtake all of your personal time, there may be some wisdom in rethinking the definition of work-life balance.Veronica West, a psychologist with a master's in public health and the founder of My Thriving Mind, told BI that work-life balance is "the elusive unicorn we're all trying to catch.""It used to mean dividing work time and personal time into neat, equal slices," she said. "But let's be honest, life rarely plays nice like that."A better way to think of it might be a "work-life rhythm," she said, which is not based on counting hours but a "feeling that both work and life energize rather than drain you."Logging off at 5 p.m. every day isn't achievable for everyone, so it's beneficial to find a flow where work doesn't exhaust you so that you have time for hobbies, exercise, downtime, socializing, and family time."The trick is learning how to balance energy, not just time, so you're surviving and enjoying each part of your day," West said. "Because, honestly, if we're dragging through one area to show up in another, where's the fun in that?"<h2 id="cd2d4065-5715-4f2c-a851-79caf4560308">Finding your 'golden hour'</h2>Gomih said there's a general perception that well-being means disengagement, and this is "a really binary view" that should be reconsidered.Rather, people should think about when their "golden hour" is, she said, describing it as when "your brain is totally on or when you are doing your most creative thinking.""My golden hour is probably between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. I also know somebody's golden hour to be 7 p.m. to midnight," Gomih said.Women can feel particularly conflicted about balancing their careers and time off, especially when working outside normal hours is met with judgment."Senior women leaders who happen to be caregivers of some manner, shape, or form, they have a lot on their plates," added Gomih. For them, working irregular hours may suit them better."It's knowing your own settings, when to turn off and when to turn on," Gomih said. "Spending time with my family fills my cup in some way, and being good at my job fills my cup in some way, and these things are very much reinforcing of each other."Breese Annable, a licensed clinical psychologist and career coach, told BI achieving a balance means aligning your personal life and career with your values and strengths."It's not just a split of hours; it's a way of living where all parts of life, including work, mirror who you are and what matters most," she said."Of course, this is an ideal — it won't ever be perfect," Annable said. "But it's a consistent vision to guide the decisions you make in both life and work."West said some days are going to need more work, and others will need more life. The key is to aim for harmony, she said, not perfection

It's time to rethink what work-life balance really means

The Covid-19 pandemic drastically changed the way we work, with <keyword id="20665553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="remote-work" source="keywords">remote work</keyword> quickly becoming the new normal. Employees across the globe adapted to working from home, enjoying newfound flexibility and a better <keyword id="19901232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-life-balance" source="keywords">work-life balance</keyword>. And for a long time, we all thought that this was the new world and going to the office every day would be a thing of the past. However, as pandemic restrictions eased, many companies began rolling back these remote policies, pushing employees to return to the office. Tech giant <keyword id="19904608" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amazon" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Amazon" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> recently ended remote work for its employees and told them to come to office five days a week, just like how it used to be before the pandemic. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, in a blog post, said that working from offices has its benefits and therefore all employees will have to start coming to work the entire week. He added that even though they will permit work from home in case of emergencies (taking care of your sick kid, running emergency errands etc), remote work will no longer be the norm. <h2>Companies are calling employees back to offices</h2>Amazon isn’t the only company that has implemented the <keyword id="20007258" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rto" source="keywords">RTO</keyword> (<keyword id="20408795" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="return-to-office" source="keywords">return to office</keyword>) mandate. Companies like <keyword id="19945574" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Wipro" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Wipro" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Wipro">Wipro</keyword>, TCS, X (earlier called Twitter) and Infosys also require employees to be there in office for at least three days a week. While X boss <keyword id="19903807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Elon-Musk" source="keywords">Elon Musk</keyword> had once asked those seeking work from home to “get off of their moral high horse,” Infosys CEO N. R. Narayana Murthy had made headlines for saying that workers in India should work 70 hours per week. In wake of Amazon’s recent RTO mandate, many young professionals are reacting strongly on the internet. While some feel that the RTO mandate will hamper their productivity, others feel that it is simply unnecessary. And then there are also some people who think that this is a good decision. Let us take a look at how people are reacting on being called back to offices. <h2>How are people reacting?</h2>Social media sites like Reddit, X, and LinkedIn are full of reactions on the RTO mandate. Many employees feel that this will increase their cost and time spent on commute. Amazon’s recent decision to bring its employees back to offices has not sat well with many, especially those accustomed to the <keyword id="20445439" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hybrid-work-model" source="keywords">hybrid work model</keyword>. On LinkedIn, Samrat Bhardwaj, who has previously interned with Amazon India, questioned the rationale behind the shift, asking whether the company truly considered employee well-being or was more focused on its own benefits. He also voiced concerns over the increased cost in case employees think of moving closer to tech hubs. He also added that if people start living at a distance from tech parks, rent will be lower, but you'll be wasting a lot of time to and fro from the office every day. On the other hand, Erin Mantz, a former Meta and Amazon employee, pointed out the stark difference between previous work norms and the flexibility of today's workforce in a LinkedIn post. “Gen Xers, for decades, used to have to go in every day... no working from home, no midday walks or being home for the dishwasher repairman,” she said, reflecting on how work-life balance has evolved. She concluded that the shift back to in-office work might not align with modern expectations, suggesting that today’s workforce has experienced a better way of working. <h2>“Working in the parking lot isn’t a bad idea”</h2>People aren’t just concerned about the increased cost and wastage of time in commute. Some also pointed out the irony of commuting to the office only to continue working in their cars due to a lack of proper space and resources. One Reddit user said, “Genuinely had no idea how bad RTO would be until it hit. I'm as unproductive as ever and half my work is done in the parking lot at this point for these exact reasons. Going back to the office isn't the end of the world, but when there's zero space or even disability accommodation for the employees? Unacceptable, especially considering the ones who usually enforce the arrangements all have their own private offices with the best gear their department offers.” Another user, Oracle-2050, quipped that working from their car was a makeshift solution, noting, "At least I can attend Teams meetings and make phone calls." The absurdity of the situation was highlighted by yet another commenter who sarcastically remarked, “Only in clown world would a worker drive to the office in order to do work in their car.” Another user pointed out that the decision-makers pushing these mandates “all have their own private offices with the best gear their department offers,” leaving regular employees to struggle in far less conducive work environments. <h2>The “Fake work” problem </h2> Annie Dean, who earlier used to work as Director of Remote Work at Facebook, took a critical stance on LinkedIn, highlighting that return-to-office mandates don’t address the core problem which is “Fake work.” This term, popularised by Airbnb’s Brian Chesky, refers to tasks that feel like work but don’t actually create value for the business. Dean explained in her post that employees are drowning in endless meetings and messages, which detract from productivity. She argued that instead of mandating office attendance, companies like Amazon should focus on “pioneering new, more efficient modes of work.” This argument has resonated with many on X as well, where employees have expressed frustration over the return-to-office mandates being viewed as a quick fix. One Twitter/X user remarked that "commuting to do the same virtual meetings in person isn’t solving anything," while others echoed that the core problem lies in work structures, not location. Here are some other reactions on X: <div type="image" title="negative reactions" msid="113528739" hostid="261" sizebytes="64721"></div> <h2>A quiet layoff strategy? </h2> Yet another take on the RTO mandate comes from Jennifer DeLorenzo, a former senior recruiter at Pinterest. She suggested that the move feels like a “quiet layoff strategy.” According to her, by mandating full-time office attendance, companies may be hoping for a wave of resignations without having to deal with the negative press of formal layoffs. “This tactic allows them to reduce headcount while avoiding the negative optics of layoffs,” DeLorenzo wrote on LinkedIn, adding that it may backfire as hiring becomes challenging again when the economy shifts. Many others seemed to agree with her view. On Reddit too, there are many people talking about how companies might be carrying out soft layoffs by implementing an RTO mandate. Her comments tapped into a broader conversation on how companies may be using return-to-office mandates to indirectly reduce their workforce. Other social media users pointed out similar trends across industries, where companies tighten office attendance policies to nudge employees toward leaving voluntarily. <h2>Some mixed reactions too </h2> While the return-to-office mandates are frustrating for many, not all reactions are negative. Some employees, particularly newer hires, see value in the traditional office setting. Bhardwaj, for example, also noted that going to the office is beneficial for freshers who want to learn. “I do believe that going to the office makes you learn a lot as freshers,” he wrote in his post, suggesting that for those early in their careers, the in-person experience might be crucial for growth and networking. Some users on X too seemed to be in support of this mandate. Here’s a look: <div type="image" title="mixed-reactions" msid="113528718" hostid="261" sizebytes="77770"></div> This duality reflects the ongoing debate around the future of work. On one hand, companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta are focusing on building stronger in-office teams, believing that physical presence fosters better collaboration, innovation, and mentoring. On the other hand, employees, especially those who experienced the benefits of remote work during the pandemic, are pushing back against these mandates, valuing the flexibility and improved work-life balance that working from home provides. As companies continue to adjust their RTO policies, the tension between employee expectations and corporate strategies is likely to persist. However, one thing is clear — the future of work is still being negotiated, and both sides are making their voices heard across the internet.

'I'm unproductive, this is not the real solution': Internet reacts as Amazon, Wipro and others call employees back to office

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 <keyword id="19901232" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="work-life-balance" source="keywords">work-life balance</keyword> 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 '<keyword id="21227403" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hustle-culture" source="keywords">hustle culture</keyword>'. A recent <keyword id="20313396" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="LinkedIn-post" source="keywords">LinkedIn post</keyword> featuring <keyword id="23468345" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Casey-Mackrell" source="keywords">Casey Mackrell</keyword>, co-founder of the <keyword id="20129288" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-startup" source="keywords">AI startup</keyword> 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.

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

A couple of years back, anybody with a full-time job across the globe used to say that they work a "9 to 5 (9 am to 5 pm)." However, as per a recent report, that is no longer the average working hours and more and more employees are now adapting to a <keyword id="23061305" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="flexible-work-style" source="keywords">flexible work style</keyword>. The <keyword id="20534318" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="coronavirus-pandemic" source="keywords">coronavirus pandemic</keyword>, in 2020, saw a major change in work patterns across the globe. As companies shifted their operations remote overnight, employees began working at their own pace, at their own time. At the time, many reports had come up that the future of work would be flexibility in terms of working hours and location. And as per a latest report, that has started happening. <h2>Bye bye 9-to-5 </h2> The standard 9-to-5 workday has now transitioned to more of a 10-to-4 routine, according to a 2023 Global Traffic Scorecard by INRIX Inc, a traffic analysis firm. This shift means fewer people are commuting during the early hours, creating a new trend in daily traffic flow. With fewer people hitting the road in the early morning or evening, traffic congestion has now shifted to the middle of the day. A CNBC report quotes Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst who authored the INRIX report, saying, "We’re seeing less activity in the morning and evening but much more around noon." Surprisingly, the number of trips made around noon is now almost equal to those at 9 am and 5 pm What was once a lull between morning and evening traffic has transformed into a peak period of congestion. <h2><keyword id="19901232" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="work-life-balance" source="keywords">Work-life balance</keyword> takes center stage </h2> The report also quotes David Satterwhite, CEO of Chronus. He says that many employees have embraced the ability to work remotely and only come into the office when absolutely necessary. This might mean arriving late, leaving early, or coming in for a brief meeting before heading back home. This trend, often called “coffee badging,” has become widely accepted as employees pop into the office for short stints and then continue their workday elsewhere. A recent survey from Owl Labs found that 58 percent of hybrid workers admitted to checking into the office for just a few hours before leaving. These days, more workers prioritise work-life balance, flexible hours, and mental health support over climbing the corporate ladder. Many are reluctant to spend more time at the office than necessary. In fact, if the option to work from home were removed, 66% of workers said they would start searching for a new job that offered more flexibility, according to Owl Labs. Of those, around 39% would quit right away. In January this year, a study conducted by Randstad also revealed that workers prioritise work-life balance over salary when evaluating potential job opportunities. According to the study, 57 percent of employees would reject a job offer if it negatively impacted their work-life balance. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/openai-to-meta-ai-companies-that-were-accused-of-copyright-infringement/articleshow/113088658.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/nykaa-sues-tata-cliq-ceo-gopal-asthana-for-contract-breach-says-he-approached-employees-to-join-rival-company/articleshow/113082094.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Nykaa sues Tata Cliq CEO Gopal Asthana for contract breach, says he approached employees to join rival company</a> OpenAI to Meta: AI companies that were accused of copyright infringement

No more 9 to 5: Employees are coming to work late and leaving early, new data shows

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="23944870" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sonya-Moore" source="keywords">Sonya Moore</keyword> decided that if Trump won in 2016, she would leave the US.</li><li>She followed through and has been living abroad for seven years.</li></ul>"If Trump wins this election, I'm <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-reelected-americans-are-planning-to-flee-in-droves-2024-3">moving out of the country</a>." I said those words in November 2016. So did a lot of other Americans: so many, in fact, that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/canadian-immigration-site-crash-election-2016-11">Canada's immigration website crashed</a> as votes were being tallied due to increased traffic. No joke. I don't know how many others <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-who-left-us-because-of-trump-talk-biden-presidency-2020-12">followed through on that declaration</a>, but I did. Trump won the election, and 9 months later, I left the US. Full disclosure: Trump becoming president was not the only reason I left — it was also about being fed up with my corporate job, coupled with a strong desire to explore the world. I was 37, single, with no children or pets, so I was free to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/working-mom-quit-job-expat-move-abroad-qatar-singapore-2023-12">quit my job</a>, uproot myself, and take off. I did own a house at the time, which I sold a few months after I left. Upon my departure, I didn't have much of a plan other than the intention to spend some time slowly exploring Asia and teaching English when I needed to make money. This no-plan thing was out of character for me, but I was very comfortable with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/southeast-asia-travel-mistakes-packing-weather-clothing-traditions-medicine-2024-4">solo international travel</a>, thanks to previous study abroad experiences and 14 years of intensive overseas work-related travel. <div type="image" title="Sonya Moore in Siem Reap, Cambodia" height="1280" width="1600" msid="115071450" hostid="261"></div><h2>The move opened a new chapter in my life</h2>As months unfolded, I discovered that when you leave space for it, life guides you to the places, people, and opportunities that are meant for you. Seven years later, I'm still living <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boomer-couldnt-afford-retirement-in-california-moved-abroad-travel-happy-2024-10">happily outside the US</a>. While my decision to leave opened up a horizon of experiences beyond my wildest dreams and led me to the man of my dreams, it hasn't all been a bed of roses. The first year, I lived off savings while traveling slowly through Asia. I started my travels in India, where I spent 10 days at a silent meditation retreat, attended teachings by the Dalai Lama, and took a <keyword id="20626363" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="yoga-teacher-training" source="keywords">yoga teacher training</keyword>. I promptly got hooked on teaching yoga. After four months in India, I continued <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-pack-traveling-in-southeast-asia-singapore-thailand-bali-2023-9">making my way through Asia</a> for eight more months. I swam in the crystal clear waters of the Maldives, visited healers in <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/american-family-kids-bali-decompress-relocate-slow-life-work-remote-2024-10">Bali</a>, witnessed breathtaking sunrise views from mountaintops in Laos, went island-hopped through the Philippines, rode motorbikes around Thailand's islands, and discovered ancient pagodas in Myanmar The cost of living in much of Asia is so low that savings can stretch a long way. I have high standards for my accommodations, and while traveling, I usually spent around $20 to $25 per night on hotels. Lower-maintenance friends of mine found simpler places for $6 per night in India. Meals usually cost around $3. After six weeks in India, I considered a lunch bill of $5 to be expensive. <h2>There have been times along the way when I've felt lost </h2>From time to time, I experienced stretches of feeling <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/relocation-moved-to-milan-living-abroad-emotionally-exhausting-unspoken-truths-2023-9">unsettled and lacking a sense of purpose</a>. Over the years, I learned that those periods of doubt and uncertainty will continue to surface. But I also learned to just keep trusting, and the way forward would eventually reveal itself. People often ask me if I was ever afraid while <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-women-need-to-know-traveling-solo-southeast-asia-tips-2022-12">traveling alone through Asia</a>. I never was — except a couple of times in India when riding on some precariously high Himalayan roads with no guardrails. But of people? I never had a reason to be. After a year away, I found an opportunity to teach yoga in a small mountain town in Myanmar. Life there was quiet, simple, and beautiful. I lived there for 9 months, and I was profoundly happy most of the time. But there were times <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/loneliness-how-to-make-friends-remote-worker-freelancer-new-city-2024-2">I felt lonely</a>. The locals were sweet and kind, with love in their eyes and actions, but I missed friends who spoke my language fluently, with whom I could have deep conversations over a glass of wine. And the dating scene? Nonexistent. <div type="image" title="Sonya Moore kissing a man at the airport" height="2118" width="1754" msid="115071453" hostid="261"></div><h2>I found love during my travels</h2>Another yoga teaching opportunity took me to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Siem Reap is not a big city, but after my small-town Myanmar life, it felt like Manhattan. There were so many restaurants, bars, social events, friends, and even some attractive single men. I fell in love with the town, the quality of life, and the locals. It was easy to get a tourist or work visa to live here long term, and it was almost as inexpensive as India and Myanmar. I was living in Siem Reap when COVID-19 hit. By that time, I was in a <keyword id="20752574" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="long-distance-relationship" source="keywords">long-distance relationship</keyword> with a French man I met during my travels. After the closed borders of the pandemic kept us apart for 7 months, I moved to France to be with him. Our story was long and winding, but it felt like destiny. He <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/my-partner-couple-travel-together-full-time-one-date-2024-5">loves global travel</a> like I do. We've been together for four years and are living together in Papua New Guinea. Our plan is to go back to a nomadic slow-travel lifestyle. My career has gradually evolved to encompass creative pursuits that light me up inside: retreats, writing, photography, and yoga. I am deeply grateful to my former self for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/live-abroad-cheap-low-cost-living-high-quality-life-2024-1">choosing to leave the US</a>. I sometimes miss family and friends, but thanks to technology, our connection stays alive across the distance, and I go back to visit once a year. I still love America and feel lucky to have been born and raised there. But there's a big world out there waiting to be discovered. Do you have a personal essay about relocating to Asia that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:akarplus@businessinsider.com">akarplus@businessinsider.com</a>. November 11, 2024 — An earlier version of this story mentioned Trump becoming president was not the reason Moore left, it was not the only reason.

I swore I would leave the US if Trump won the 2016 election. Here's how that worked out for me.

<ul><li>An X user says she has a friend in <keyword id="19895622" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Microsoft" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Microsoft" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Microsoft">Microsoft</keyword> who works 15-20 hours per week</li><li>The employee plays <keyword id="20303301" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="League-of-Legends" source="keywords">League of Legends</keyword> for most of the time</li><li>The user's post has over 2 million views</li></ul> Every person has a unique working style. While one employee could take hours in finishing a job, other could complete the same task in much lesser time. And in the recent times, ever since debates about <keyword id="19901232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-life-balance" source="keywords">work-life balance</keyword> have taken centre stage, many people are talking about how being productive has nothing to do with the number of hours an employee puts in to complete a job. An X user, in a recent post, shared that she has a friend working at Microsoft who works for only 15-20 hours per week and plays League (of Legends) for the rest of the time. The post has now gone viral and people are dropping a mix of hilarious and serious comments. While one user asked if there are any openings, another commented that as long as the work is getting done, this shouldn’t be a problem. <h2>X user’s viral post </h2> In the post, the user wrote, “talking to my friend who works at microsoft &amp; apparently he works 15-20 hr weeks &amp; plays league the rest of the time &amp; gets paid $300k for it” The post, at the time of writing this story, has 2 million views. As mentioned already, people are reacting to the news and are wondering if they too, can land such a job. “What are the reqs for this job and any open positions?,” a user wrote while another commented, “Dream job lol I'd love 20 hours a week over 40 so much.” Other users, meanwhile, mentioned that there’s nothing wrong with this if the person can complete the task assigned to them. “If they can do the same work in 20 hours that someone else doing the same job would need 40 to achieve — then I don't see the issue,” a user said. Another user wrote, “Most CEOs would love a person who got results and hit the mark - no matter how many or few hours they work.” Another user was all praises for League of Legends players and said, “I’ve met so many people like that... in league... they always seem very smart though, and are very high rank... so maybe they're 10x engineering gods who don't need to work a lot like us peasants” <h2><keyword id="22902800" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-employee" source="keywords">Amazon employee</keyword> who gets paid to do nothing </h2> This isn’t the first time that a techie has been in the limelight for getting paid more to do less. Last month, an <keyword id="19904608" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Amazon" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> worker was making headlines for saying that he gets paid Rs 3 crore a year for practically doing nothing. The employee, who has been with Amazon for a year and a half, shared his story on Blind, an anonymous platform. They revealed that after being laid off from <keyword id="19902762" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="google" source="keywords">Google</keyword>, they joined Amazon with a deliberate intention to do as little work as possible while still drawing a significant paycheque. The strategy, the employee claims, involved performing the bare minimum necessary to avoid raising any red flags with his managers. "I joined Amazon 1.5 years ago after being laid off from Google," the employee wrote and added, ”My goal was simple: do nothing, collect a salary, and eventually get placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).”

'Microsoft employee gets $300,000 for working 15-20 hours a week’: X user’s post goes viral

Discussions around <keyword id="19901232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-life-balance" source="keywords">work-life balance</keyword> have been around since forever and when <keyword id="20231207" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-from-home" source="keywords">work from home</keyword> became a norm in 2020, these talks intensified. Soon, people across the globe realised how work from home could save a lot of time and money for them. As a result, they get to spend more time focusing on things apart from work. In India too, work-life balance has been a hot topic for a long time. Earlier this year, a study by the UKG Workforce Institute revealed that nearly 78% of employees in India suffer from job burnout, which often results in both physical and emotional fatigue. Around 64% of these workers were willing to reduce their workload even if it meant a corresponding pay cut. This highlighted a growing awareness among employees about the value of maintaining a <keyword id="22783879" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="healthy-work-life-balance" source="keywords">healthy work-life balance</keyword>, with many choosing to prioritize well-being over monetary benefits. <h2><keyword id="20830500" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bengaluru-man" source="keywords">Bengaluru man</keyword>'s photo goes viral</h2> Despite this, India was recently reported to rank 48th in the 2024 Global Life-Work Balance Index, reflecting the challenges faced by employees in maintaining a healthy work-life balance. And a Bengaluru man’s recent <keyword id="20384549" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="viral-photo" source="keywords">viral photo</keyword> has once again stirred work-life balance discussions in the country. A photograph of a man working on his laptop while standing outside a popular momo stall in Bengaluru took the internet by storm on Tuesday. The photo, shared by X user Kritika Kumari, quickly went viral, capturing the attention of many who found humour in the situation but also sparked deeper conversations about the pressures faced by <keyword id="21460912" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="corporate-employees" source="keywords">corporate employees</keyword>. Kumari captioned the photo, “His priorities are sorted.” The photo shows the techie engrossed in his laptop, seemingly unfazed by his surroundings. The post resonated with many, leading to a flood of comments that ranged from witty remarks to relatable anecdotes. <div type="image" title="Bengaluru man&amp;#39;s photo goes viral" msid="112516540" hostid="261" sizebytes="2145538" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Bengaluru man&amp;#39;s photo goes viral&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <h2 style="margin-bottom: 0.7em; line-height: 1.3; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 24px; background: 0px 0px rgb(255, 255, 255); text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">Work-life balance in India a myth, says internet</h2>X users reacted to the photo and talked about the man's plight. One user humorously summed up the scene as, “Corporate employee,” while another quipped, “Pyaar se jyada, kaam pyara,” highlighting the often-overwhelming work demands that many in the <keyword id="19955787" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tech-industry" source="keywords">tech industry</keyword> face. "The so-called "work-life" balance is a myth! It should really be called "hand-laptop" balance," another user wrote. <div type="twitter" handle="manojrmenon" handlename="manojrmenon" favoritecount="0" retweetcount="0" id="1823207147599184281"></div> The jokes didn’t stop there; some users playfully imagined the man’s predicament, suggesting that he might have forgotten his phone at the office and was now transferring money to the momo vendor via net banking on his laptop. While the image and its accompanying jokes provided light-hearted entertainment, they also highlighted the growing concern about the intense work culture in the tech sector, where employees often find themselves working outside traditional office hours and settings. As one user lamented, “Ek labor karega bhi kya? Apne ghar ja kar English jhaadega. ‘I am audible? My screen is visible or not?’ (What will a laborer do? He will go back home and flaunt his English, saying, ‘I am audible? Is my screen visible or not?’).”

'Work-life balance is a myth’: Photo of man working in front of momo stall goes viral, Internet reacts

In a startling development, officials within the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) have voiced deep concerns over a “toxic” work culture under the leadership of Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch. These allegations, formally communicated to the finance ministry, depict a troubling work environment plagued by unattainable demands, unprofessional conduct and mental health crises, according to a report by the Economic Times. In essence, a <keyword id="21410642" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="toxic-work-culture" source="keywords">toxic work culture</keyword> is an environment that fosters negativity, dysfunction and a lack of trust among employees and management. This type of culture can manifest in various ways that are often harmful to both employees and organisations, severely impairing organisational growth and employee well-being. Identifying a toxic work culture is crucial for both employees and organisations. Recognising signs and symptoms of toxic work culture can often be the first step toward addressing and improving <keyword id="20346862" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="workplace-culture" source="keywords">workplace culture</keyword>. Below are 10 indicators that may indicate a toxic environment. High <keyword id="21462876" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employee-turnover" source="keywords">employee turnover</keyword>: A persistent pattern of employees leaving the organisation often signals dissatisfaction with the work culture. When turnover rates are high, it reflects a breakdown in the employer-employee relationship, typically due to a lack of respect or support from management. <keyword id="14609778" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Quiet-quitting" source="Orion">Quiet quitting</keyword>: This phenomenon occurs when employees disengage from their roles, doing only the minimum required. It highlights a lack of motivation and connection to the organisation's goals, often stemming from a toxic atmosphere. Bullying and harassment: Any form of bullying or harassment, whether verbal or psychological, creates a hostile work environment. Such behaviours not only undermine morale, but also instil fear among employees, leading to increased stress and anxiety. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111982335" title="Employees lack trust in HR’s ability to address workplace bullying effectively—and for good reason, says study" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Constantly changing goals: Frequent shifts in priorities without adequate communication can leave employees feeling disoriented and frustrated. This lack of clear direction can hinder productivity and contribute to a sense of futility in their efforts. <keyword id="23035059" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="poor-leadership" source="keywords">Poor leadership</keyword>: Ineffective or toxic leadership can significantly impact workplace culture. Leaders who exhibit favouritism, lack consistency or disregard employee welfare contribute to a negative environment that can drive talent away. Lack of transparency: When communication is poor and information is not shared openly, it breeds distrust and uncertainty. Employees may feel left in the dark about important decisions, which can exacerbate feelings of insecurity and disengagement. <keyword id="19954076" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="micromanagement" source="keywords">Micromanagement</keyword>: Excessive oversight from management can create an environment of fear and anxiety. Employees who feel constantly monitored may struggle to perform at their best, leading to decreased morale and productivity. Inadequate support systems: Employees who lack sufficient resources or support may feel overwhelmed and undervalued. A toxic environment often sets unrealistic expectations without providing the necessary tools for success. Toxic gossip: While some office chatter is normal, pervasive negative gossip can create a divisive atmosphere. This behaviour undermines teamwork and can lead to a culture of distrust and hostility among colleagues. Poor <keyword id="19901232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-life-balance" source="keywords">work-life balance</keyword>: A culture that prioritises work over personal well-being can lead to burnout. When employees are expected to sacrifice their personal lives for work, it can result in high stress levels and diminished job satisfaction.

You Searched For "work life" and got 10 results

I quit my 6-figure job to be a stay-at-home dad. After leaving California, we could afford to be a single-income family.

Alexandra Frost

‘He had a breakup and took a one-week leave’: Manager shares about his Gen-Z employee, internet reacts

Divyanshi Sharma

It's time to rethink what work-life balance really means

Lindsay Dodgson

'I'm unproductive, this is not the real solution': Internet reacts as Amazon, Wipro and others call employees back to office

Divyanshi Sharma

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

Divyanshi Sharma

No more 9 to 5: Employees are coming to work late and leaving early, new data shows

Divyanshi Sharma

I swore I would leave the US if Trump won the 2016 election. Here's how that worked out for me.

Sonya Moore

'Microsoft employee gets $300,000 for working 15-20 hours a week’: X user’s post goes viral

Divyanshi Sharma

'Work-life balance is a myth’: Photo of man working in front of momo stall goes viral, Internet reacts

Divyanshi Sharma

Is your work culture toxic? Look out for these 10 signs

Kunal Kambli

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