Employee Worked 14-Hour Days for ₹7.8 Crore Promotion, but His Wife Filed for Divorce
Employee Worked 14-Hour Days for ₹7.8 Crore Promotion, but His Wife Filed for Divorce
A tech employee’s relentless pursuit of career success came at a steep personal cost—his marriage. After dedicating years to securing a coveted promotion at one of the world’s largest tech and e-commerce companies, he finally achieved his goal, but his wife filed for divorce.
The employee shared his experience on the anonymous professional platform Blind, where he revealed that his work commitments caused him to miss key family moments, including the birth of his daughter. Despite securing a senior management position with a total compensation package of ₹7.8 crore ($900,000), he admitted feeling empty rather than fulfilled.
Grueling Work Hours and Missed Family Moments
In his post, the employee detailed his intense schedule, stating that his job required him to attend meetings from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Over the course of three years, his workload steadily increased as he took on responsibilities across multiple global teams.
Total comp $900,000, but at what cost?
— Daniel Vassallo (@dvassallo) February 12, 2025
I got out of this rat race when I looked around me and realized that even the winners were miserable. pic.twitter.com/c05byRzgo2
“I joined three years ago as a naive senior who kept requesting a promotion. Since I began asking, the workload has only increased, and my responsibilities expanded. Eventually, I found myself coordinating between the EU and Asia teams, leading to meetings that started at 7 a.m. and ended at 9 p.m.,” he wrote.
His dedication to work took a toll on his personal life. He missed his daughter’s birth and was unable to support his wife during her postpartum depression due to work commitments. “On the day my daughter was born, I was in meetings almost all day. When my wife had postpartum depression, I had a scheduling conflict and couldn’t attend therapy with her. She asked for a divorce,” he revealed.
A Promotion Without Happiness
Despite the personal sacrifices, the employee finally received the long-awaited promotion. However, instead of joy, he felt a sense of emptiness.
“I received the good news that my promotion was approved today. It does not feel as happy as I had hoped. I feel empty and indifferent,” he confessed.
Reflecting on his situation, he questioned whether his sacrifices were worth it. “Can’t stop asking myself what I am doing with my life. But I guess in this layoff s**tstorm era, I should be happy with what I have, right? But how to be happy?” he wrote.
Social Media Reactions
The post quickly gained traction, sparking debates on work-life balance. While some sympathized with his predicament, others criticized his apparent lack of awareness.
One commenter wrote, “Even the way you speak sounds arrogant and tone-deaf. Your wife and daughter are about to leave you, and all you care about is RSUs (Restricted Stock Units).” Another questioned his choices, asking, “What kind of lunatic sits through meetings all day when his daughter is being born?”
Others used the story as a reminder to prioritize relationships over career aspirations. “As we grow older, we recall certain moments and smile. Have you ever heard anyone reminiscing about the day they were promoted?” one person commented.
The discussion extended beyond Blind, with a screenshot of the post circulating on X (formerly Twitter). Many users emphasized the importance of balancing professional and personal life. “I don’t consider this a terrible dilemma. ALWAYS prioritize family over everything,” one user wrote.
While some argued that such high salaries come with the expectation of total work commitment, others acknowledged the difficult trade-offs in today’s competitive job market. “Keeping your job by ensuring your employer is happy, even if it means missing out on personal events, seems like a survival strategy,” one user noted.
The Ongoing Debate on Work-Life Balance
The viral post has reignited discussions on the cost of career success. While financial stability remains a priority, many are questioning whether sacrificing personal happiness is a price worth paying.
