Rs 23,000 a month and a 6-day work week: Frustrated Hyderabad engineer says "ready to accept less pay but..."

A Hyderabad-based civil engineer's emotional post about working a six-day week has struck a chord with professionals across India. The post shared on Reddit has reignited conversations about work-life balance, employee well-being, and the realities of the construction industry.

The engineer, a 25-year-old woman, shared her frustrations online, saying that years of demanding work schedules have left her physically and mentally exhausted. The woman in her post revealed that she is ready to work at a less salary but other companies also have a six-day work week policy.

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Hyderabad engineer says 6-day work week is taking a toll

The engineer, a 2023 graduate of Indian Institute of Information Technology Nuzvid, said she has spent the past three years working in the civil engineering sector. According to her post, the six-day work week has made it difficult to maintain any meaningful balance between professional and personal life.

She wrote: "For the past 3 years, I’ve been working a 6-day work week."

Describing her daily routine, she added: "By the time I get home, I barely have the energy to do basic household chores, spend time with my family, or even enjoy my evenings."

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‘Sundays are spent recovering’

The engineer said the only weekly holiday is often consumed by rest and recovery rather than leisure or family time. She explained: "Sundays are mostly spent recovering from the week’s exhaustion, and before I know it, it’s Monday again."

Her comments resonated with many professionals who said they face similar challenges in industries where six-day work schedules remain common.

Looking for a switch, but finding the same problem

The Hyderabad engineer revealed that she is currently employed at one of India's largest construction firms and has been actively exploring other opportunities.



However, she said many potential employers continue to offer similar work schedules. "I badly want to switch the job."

She added: "I’m ready to accept lesser pay but still other companies are also asking for 6-day work week." The statement sparked discussion among job seekers who said they often prioritize flexibility and work-life balance over higher salaries.

Debate over work-life balance and labour laws

The post also raised broader questions about employee welfare and workplace policies. Expressing frustration over the situation, the engineer wrote:

"Why Indian labour laws created to maintain WLB.?" She further added: "We’re humans, not machines just to improve someone’s empire."

The comments triggered a wider debate online about whether India's workforce should move more aggressively toward a five-day work week, a model that has gained traction in several countries.

Social media reactions

A user asked her, “How do you pay rent and save money?” The engineer replied, “There is no money left for savings, 8k for rent, 10K I will send to my home, I’ll keep 5k for transport expenses and miscellaneous expenses.”

One user shared their experience and commented, “I have friends who live in camps of contractor works like 24×7×365. The residence is of ultra bogus quality. It's a highway project. The WLB is better in metro projects, but it’s worse in highway projects.”

Another user encouraged her to look for better opportunities and wrote, “I am so proud of you, OP. Please apply for new jobs and pray for a better opportunity. 23k for 6day per week is brutal. I pray you have enough strength every day and have...

Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on Reddit. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.