An entrepreneur’s take on what “true remote work” means has sparked a discussion online, with many social media users agreeing that several companies have diluted the idea of flexibility by attaching conditions to it.
(Also read: Employee rejects WFH job over ‘webcam monitoring, 10-min screenshot’ policies)
Taking to Instagram, entrepreneur Sankalp Sinha shared a video in which he criticised companies that claim to offer remote work but still expect employees to stay in the same city or remain available to come to office whenever required.
‘That’s not remote work’
In the video, Sinha said, “To every company who says we allow remote work, you can come to office whenever you want and, you can work from anywhere but as long as you’re in the city. That’s not remote work. You’ve been fooled. Companies you should do better.”
He then showed his own work setup from a scenic remote location and said, “Let me show you what true remote work means. I’m in a nice hotel in a remote location, just made a cup of tea, and Claude is building my next feature. There’s my tea, and this is where I’m working from.”
(Also read: ‘India loses hours daily in traffic’: Techie backs PM Modi’s work from home push)
{{/usCountry}}(Also read: ‘India loses hours daily in traffic’: Techie backs PM Modi’s work from home push)
{{/usCountry}}Sinha also gave a glimpse of the property, saying, “There are some nice seats, a jacuzzi or a bathtub, whatever. And then there is endless sea in front of me, and a few more folks who get remote work or just came here to enjoy a vacation.”
Calling this the real meaning of remote work, he added, “This is what remote work means. This is what remote work should be. If you’re a company, do better. If you’re an employee, there are many remote jobs. Some of them are on the product that I’m building, but it’s very easy to get remote jobs these days. Go get your gig, don't settle for less.”
‘Remote work is such a blessing’
The video was shared with a caption in which Sinha said he went remote in 2018 and had never returned to a full time, five day a week office setup.
“I think remote work is such a blessing which you can utilize to your fullest potential. You can travel the world, go to a nearby cafe, meet cool people, and just work when you want to while ensuring that your output doesn't dip,” he wrote.
(Also read: Indian professionals cheer PM Modi’s WFH suggestion amid austerity call: 'No point burning fuel to office')
He further said that remote work allows people to eat good food, explore new places and experience life beyond traditional office routines. “If you can in your life, take that risk, find a remote job, and get out of your comfort zone and try it completely for a year. I bet your life will change,” he added.
Take a look here at the clip:
Internet reacts
The clip has amassed several reactions from social media users. One user wrote, “This is exactly what remote work should mean, not just working from home in the same city.” Another said, “Companies want the branding of remote work but not the freedom that comes with it.”
A third user commented, “True remote work is about trust and output, not location tracking.” Another added, “This is the future of work, especially for people in tech and creative fields.” One user wrote, “The problem is that many managers still confuse presence with productivity.” Another said, “Work from anywhere should actually mean anywhere.” A user also commented, “This is inspiring, but it also needs discipline and strong boundaries.”
HT.com has reached out to the user for his comments, and the copy will be updated once his response is received.
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)