A techie’s viral video has started a debate around the differences between the work cultures in India and Singapore, after he claimed that employees in India often have to “invent tragedies” just to take leave. In the caption of his Instagram post, Aman Vaishnav urged people in India to “stop justifying time off” as it, in his opinion, was the biggest “mindset shift” he experienced after moving to Singapore.
‘Stop justifying your time off’
“The biggest mindset shift I had moving to Singapore. Stop justifying your time off,” he said in a post on Instagram.
Vaishnav said that employees in “toxic” workplaces feel pressured to explain why they are not working, whereas the approach is very different in a “growth culture”.
“In toxic cultures, you feel the need to explain why you aren’t working. You over-share details hoping for sympathy approvals… In a growth culture, you simply notify,” he further said.
In the next few lines, he suggested that instead of seeking permission for time off, employees should simply inform their managers.“Sir, can I please take leave for X reason? I will be OOO from Monday to Wednesday. Be a professional who manages time, not a child asking for recess. Do you still feel scared to send that OOO email?”
‘Had to invent tragedy to get Friday off’
In the now viral video, the machine learning engineer said, “In India, you have to beg like a poor man just to ask for leave. ‘Sir, I’m feeling unwell.’ ‘Sir, there’s a family emergency.’ We had to invent tragedies just to get a Friday off.”
He contrasted that with his experience in Singapore: “But here in Singapore? I don’t ask, I inform – ‘Logging off, see you Monday.’ After 6 pm, my phone belongs to me, not my boss – no calls, no guilt, just life.
“If you’re still sitting in the office after 8 pm thinking you’re doing ‘hard work’, you’re not hardworking, you’re just being exploited, man,” he went on to say.
What are Internet users saying?
Expectedly, his post has been gaining significant traction on social media as many resonated with what he said.
“Hope GenZ change this in India,” said one social media user in response to his video. Another added, “Same here in the US.”
A third expressed, “Sadly, bro is right.”
Many in the comments section of the video even asked if there are any openings in his organisation.