Work-life balance has become one of the most talked-about aspects in today’s workplaces. For many professionals, finding that balance is tied closely to being part of a workplace with a healthy, supportive culture.
But every now and then, incidents surface that make people question whether some companies truly practice what they preach.
One such instance came out recently on the social media platform TeamBlind, where a user called out Microsoft over an unusual experience.
What does the post explain?
The post read, “Microsoft Hiring Manager sends me email for interview at 1 AM? Is this a red flag? At 1 AM why is a hiring manager sending out emails for interviews? I hope this doesn’t indicate the WLB of the team. Even when I sometimes wrote an email at night, I’d schedule it to be delivered in the morning.”
Satya Nadella on work-life balance
Some of the world’s top tech leaders have often shared perspectives that challenge the conventional idea of “work-life balance.” Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Satya Nadella of Microsoft, and Jack Ma of Alibaba have all voiced views that might unsettle employees seeking clear boundaries between work and life.
“I used to always think that you need to find that balance between what’s considered relaxing versus what is working,” Nadella told the Australian Financial Review (AFR) in November. Now, he says, he has learnt to “reframe that equation”.
“What I’m trying to do is harmonise what I deeply care about, my deep interests, with my work,” Nadella explained to AFR. “I view Microsoft as a platform for me to be able to pursue my own passions,” he told AFR. “And that gives me a lot of meaning, and that, to me, is the ultimate form of relaxation,” he added.
‘Classic red flag’
Netizens responded to the post and commented regarding the work-life balance in FAANG companies. A user noted, “He was testing if you would respond right away. You have failed the first test.” Another added, “Managers at FAANG companies often seem to have no life other than work, and they expect others to live the same way. This is pretty common at AMZ.”
“My manager sends out emails at 1am and on Sunday nights, and he is super chill. That’s just how he organises and preps. It’s not a reflection of expectations. I’ve never been asked to work late or weekends. I’ve had the same manager for almost 10 years because he’s super chill. “I realise he might be uncommon, but it’s a data point,” added a user.
“Bro is probably in India for H-1B stamping and working in his day time,” mocked a netizen. “This is such a classic red flag,” noted another.
“If this is a serious question, people work at times that are convenient for them. They might have spent the day away doing their personal chores. Or might have a habit of leaving work early and then spending an hour or two late at night.,” stated another.
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