Overworked employee says manager gives them work after 6:00 pm; netizens suggest: 'Go on airplane mode'

A remote employee recently turned to Indian Workplace to express deep dissatisfaction with the overwhelming demands placed on them outside of regular working hours. Having joined a new company, they expected a more balanced routine, especially in a work-from-home setting. However, their experience was far from ideal. According to their detailed post, the employee’s manager, who operates from a different physical location, has consistently burdened them with last-minute tasks, even when the official shift is nearing its end.

The employee described how they frequently receive assignments as late as 6 PM—just an hour before their workday ends. In more extreme cases, they are expected to continue working until as late as 10:30 PM. Moreover, the manager occasionally initiates calls as late as 9 PM, asking for task updates or assigning non-urgent work. The worker mentioned that such responsibilities are often imposed with tight deadlines, which are unreasonable given the complexity of the tasks involved.

To make matters worse, there appears to be no distinction between urgent and non-urgent duties. Even tasks that could easily wait until the next day are treated as immediate priorities, increasing the pressure on the employee. This constant intrusion into personal time has led to a complete breakdown in the boundary between professional duties and personal life.

Online Community Weighs In with Boundary-Setting Advice

The post sparked a wave of responses from fellow professionals who sympathized with the situation and offered advice on how to reclaim control. One user stressed the importance of establishing boundaries gradually. They recommended not responding to messages after work hours and deflecting calls to scheduled team meetings or online platforms during working hours. The key, according to them, is to appear highly proactive during regular office hours while gradually reducing responsiveness after hours. This would allow the employee to create a healthier balance without appearing uncooperative.

Another member highlighted that many managers exaggerate the urgency of tasks. They advised others not to respond to work-related communication after hours and to avoid giving justifications for their unavailability. This user shared an example from their previous workplace, where employees were added to weekend on-call duty without any compensation. In response, the team began ignoring calls or blaming technical issues to avoid being taken advantage of.

Some contributors even shared practical tips for avoiding such situations. One suggestion was to switch the phone to airplane mode when receiving calls after 9 PM to simulate poor network coverage. Others recommended documenting all instances of after-hours task assignments for future reference. They emphasized the need to respond politely but firmly, making it clear that such work will only be attended to during the next business day.

Caution Against Unpaid Overtime and Manipulative Tactics

Several commenters warned that this pattern of behavior from the manager might be a subtle attempt to force the employee to quit voluntarily. This tactic, often referred to as " quiet resignation," allows the superior to avoid accountability while pushing the worker toward burnout. To counter this, contributors advised inflating time estimates for tasks and strictly adhering to logged-in hours. They reminded the poster that loyalty often goes unacknowledged in corporate environments, and protecting one’s well-being should take priority over appeasing a demanding superior.