A professional declined a job offer worth 20 million rupees in India to accept a 160,000 dollar position in the United States. The choice, described in a LinkedIn post by Dubai-based AI executive CJ Teja Sai, has sparked discussion on salary comparisons between the two countries. The individual explained that work ends at 5 PM in the US, while Indian roles often require availability around the clock. Visa concerns were acknowledged but outweighed by the value placed on predictable personal time. An account from a relative described an engineering manager in India who resigned after repeated late-night calls with US teams, including one that ran from 3 AM to 6 AM. The post noted that comparisons of pay and taxes should also consider time boundaries and the ability to disconnect from work. Reactions online were divided, with some arguing that work-life balance remains limited in the US as well, especially under certain management styles. Others pointed out that time saved from work demands in the US may be spent on household tasks that are more commonly handled by support staff in India.
