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Woman calls out ‘comp off’ culture at workplaces: ‘Where is work-life balance?’
A woman questioned comp offs, saying work-life balance lost meaning when companies controlled her schedule.
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A woman has sparked a discussion on social media after sharing her frustration with the concept of compensatory offs, commonly known as comp offs, in corporate workplaces. Taking to Instagram, a woman posted a video in which she questioned why employees are made to work on weekends or holidays and then given a day off on a random working day.
(Also read: Employee rejects WFH job over ‘webcam monitoring, 10-min screenshot’ policies)
In the video, she said, "I absolutely hate the concept of comp offs. What do you mean you make me work on weekends and some holidays and give me a comp off on some random working day where none of my friends or family members are available? What do you want me to do on that day, just sit in the home and do yoga? That too in this summers, huh, what? Just because I'm doing this for money does not mean I don't have any social life.”
(Also read: ‘India loses hours daily in traffic’: Techie backs PM Modi’s work from home push)
She added that while she enjoys spending time alone, being given an off on a working day does not make up for losing a weekend or holiday. “Also, I do love my lonely time but that does not mean you give me some random holiday on a working day and make me go to a cafe and spend 1000, 2000 rupees on food all by myself sitting there watching stars, ceiling lights? No, this is not what I want," she said.
‘Where is the work life balance?’
The woman further argued that companies often defend such arrangements by saying employees are still working only five days a week. However, she said the issue lies in employees having no control over which five days they work.
"And then in the end you say, 'See we're still making you work only five days a week.' Five days a week of my choice you make me work, then I'll be okay. What is this? You only select when I should work, when I should not work and then you give me holiday on one day where I have to sit alone the entire day without any social battery and life,” she said.
Questioning the idea of work life balance, she added, “And the worst part is they only talk about work-life balance. Where is this work-life balance coming from when my life is also becoming work only because of your schedule?”
Internet reacts
The clip has amassed a few reactions, with several users agreeing with her take on workplace schedules. One user wrote, "This is exactly why weekends cannot be replaced by random weekdays." Another said, "Comp offs sound good only on paper, but they do not give you your social life back."
(Also read: Mumbai techie questions long office commutes after 20 days of WFH: ‘Why is this still not normalised?’)
Another wrote, "Working on weekends and then getting Monday off is not the same thing."
HT.com has reached out to the user for her comments, and the copy will be updated once her 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.)
