Gurgaon man records wife working at 1:30 am, calls out office culture: ‘New moms shouldn’t be abused like this’
A Gurgaon man’s 1:30 am video of his wife, a new mother, working sparked debate on workplace culture.
Working mothers often struggle to balance their careers and family life, especially when they return to work after childbirth.
Many face long hours, pressure from managers, and little emotional support. A recent video from Gurgaon has brought this issue into the spotlight.
The video was shared on Instagram by @lifeworklullaby with the caption, “Corporate toxicity is true. This is exactly when she was dealing with her postpartum.”
In the video, a man from Gurgaon records his wife, a new mother, sitting with her laptop at 1:30 am and continuing to work, as he questions the heavy demands placed on her despite her recent transition into motherhood.
“Manager has made her life hell,” he says.
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Calls out toxic culture:
The man then questions what people expect from a woman who has just become a mother. “Matlab tum yaar ek nayi mother se kya expect karte ho ki wo bacche ka bhi dhayan rakhe aur tumhare liye 16-16 ghante kaam bhi kare? (What do you expect from a new mother, taking care of her baby and working 16-hour days?)”
{{/usCountry}}The man then questions what people expect from a woman who has just become a mother. “Matlab tum yaar ek nayi mother se kya expect karte ho ki wo bacche ka bhi dhayan rakhe aur tumhare liye 16-16 ghante kaam bhi kare? (What do you expect from a new mother, taking care of her baby and working 16-hour days?)”
{{/usCountry}}He also speaks about his wife’s professional background. The man says she is a Chartered Accountant who cleared one of the most difficult exams in India.
{{/usCountry}}He also speaks about his wife’s professional background. The man says she is a Chartered Accountant who cleared one of the most difficult exams in India.
{{/usCountry}}According to him, she now doubts her own worth because of the pressure she faces at work.
{{/usCountry}}According to him, she now doubts her own worth because of the pressure she faces at work.
{{/usCountry}}He says that someone who can handle complex audit reports is being made to feel that she cannot balance a career and motherhood.
{{/usCountry}}He says that someone who can handle complex audit reports is being made to feel that she cannot balance a career and motherhood.
{{/usCountry}}The man further criticises what he calls “global work culture”. He says that if a workplace cannot support a mother, then it is not truly global, but toxic.
HT.com has reached out to the user for a comment. This report will be updated when he responds.
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Check out the video here:
Here's how people reacted to the video:
Instagram users expressed sympathy for the new mother and praised the husband for speaking up. Several viewers said the video reflected the reality faced by many working women after childbirth.
One of the users commented, “Not just a new mother - NOBODY should be abused like this.”
A second user commented, “So many of us can relate to it! Have experienced the same after joining work post maternity leave.”
“New mom or not, Pregnant or otherwise, working at 1 am is absolute burnout!” another user commented.
The video was shared on January 29, 2026, and since then, it has gained 1.8 million views and numerous comments.
