‘Work from home has no izzat in India’: Entrepreneur’s post sparks debate on how remote work is perceived
NITES Urges Centre To Mandate Work From Home For IT Sector Amid Fuel Conservation Push
Remote work has steadily moved from being a temporary fix to a long-term reality for many professionals. Flexible schedules and hybrid setups are now common, offering people the comfort of working from their own space. But even as this shift grows, the way society views work done from home hasn’t quite caught up.
A recent post by entrepreneur Mahima Jalan has brought this gap into focus, triggering conversations about whether working from home is truly respected in Indian households.
Sharing her personal experience on X, she wrote, “Work from home concept has no izzat (respect) in India.” Her statement reflects a frustration many remote workers quietly deal with—being perceived as less “busy” or less “serious” simply because they are not physically going to an office.
She explained that despite working from home for the past five years, her daily routine still includes helping her mother with household chores, attending to guests, and managing errands—even during official work hours. According to her, balancing all of this doesn’t change how her work is seen. As she put it, “tum toh pura din laptop pe busy rehti ho”—a remark that, ironically, dismisses the very work she is doing.
Mahima pointed out a deeper social mindset: physical presence in an office is still treated as proof of productivity. In contrast, remote work often gets mistaken for flexibility without accountability. She noted that if she spent hours commuting and returned home visibly tired, her efforts would likely be taken more seriously.
Her observation also touched on how traditional work structures acted as a boundary. The office, in many ways, served as visible validation that a person’s time and effort were valuable—something that seems less obvious when work happens within the home.
The post quickly resonated with others, drawing a wide range of reactions.
Some users agreed, sharing how difficult it is to maintain focus in a home environment that doesn’t recognize professional boundaries. One person mentioned escaping to cafés or even working from their car a few days a week just to avoid constant interruptions.
Another user highlighted that working from home only works well when there is privacy and understanding within the household. Without that, it can become overwhelming rather than convenient.
At the same time, a few voices supported the benefits of remote work, saying it allows better use of time. They argued that managing both professional tasks and household responsibilities efficiently shouldn’t be seen as a lack of seriousness, but rather as smart time management.
There were also contrasting opinions. One user suggested that if someone is able to frequently engage in chores or social interactions during work hours, it may signal that their workload isn’t being strictly maintained. Another added that society often values visibility over actual output, implying that being physically seen working still carries more weight than the results delivered.
The discussion reveals a larger cultural shift still in progress. While workplaces have adapted to new ways of functioning, social attitudes—especially within homes—are evolving at a slower pace.
