As heavy rain continues to disrupt daily commutes in several cities, a man has sparked a conversation online after questioning why employees are still expected to travel to offices during extreme weather despite work-from-home technology being readily available.
(Also read: Delhi woman says WFH has ‘killed’ her social life: ‘Nobody talks about what you quietly lose’)
In a video shared on Instagram, the man spoke about the disconnect between technological progress and workplace practices in India. He argued that while remote working has become possible for many jobs, employers are often reluctant to offer the flexibility even when weather conditions make commuting difficult.
‘Indian work culture still does not really recognise that’
The man, identified as Joshua Jacob Smith, expressed his frustration while highlighting how employees may have to reach their workplaces drenched after travelling through heavy rain.
"So basically with technology going so far, work from home has become a possibility. But, um, the Indian work culture still does not really recognise that on a day where it's raining like crazy, and you have to go into work fully wet."
{{/usCountry}}"So basically with technology going so far, work from home has become a possibility. But, um, the Indian work culture still does not really recognise that on a day where it's raining like crazy, and you have to go into work fully wet."
{{/usCountry}}His remarks reflected a concern frequently raised by employees about whether companies should adopt more flexible working policies during heavy rain, flooding and other situations that can make travelling to the office inconvenient or unsafe.
Sharing the video, Smith also questioned whether some workplaces have failed to keep pace with changing working styles.
"Who agrees that some employers still do live in the Stone Age?" the caption accompanying the post reads.
Watch the clip here:
Social media users react
The video prompted reactions from social media users, with several agreeing that companies should consider remote work during severe weather rather than expecting employees to commute regardless of the conditions.
One user wrote, "WFH should be common sense on such days." Another echoed the sentiment and commented, "Indian work culture really needs to evolve."
(Also read: ‘This is not home’: Man says WFH from flat feels no different from office)
Others argued that while technology has made remote working easier, attitudes towards workplace flexibility have not changed at the same pace. "Technology changed, but workplace mindsets didn’t," one person remarked.
Another user suggested that employers should have a straightforward policy for days of particularly intense rainfall, writing, "Heavy rain should automatically mean WFH."
(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.)