Work from home means office work and household chores, says woman in viral video
A Delhi woman’s Instagram video highlighting the challenges of working from home has resonated with social media users, reigniting the debate over how remote work is perceived within families. In the video, she said the biggest challenge is not the job itself but convincing those at home that working remotely is still work.
The video drew widespread reactions from users who said they face similar expectations while working from home.
‘My brother earns less but gets more respect’
Sharing her experience, Heena Dogra said her family treats her brother’s office job differently from her remote role.
She said her brother, despite earning less, receives more respect at home because he dresses for work and leaves the house each day, while she is perceived as simply staying at home.
Dogra added that although her brother’s workday typically runs from 9 am to 5 pm, her own work often stretches from 9 am to 9 pm.
She also said her family frequently questions how she gets paid for working from home, assuming she spends only a little time on her laptop before earning a salary.
Guests take priority over meetings
Dogra said household expectations become more demanding whenever guests visit.
According to her, family members expect her to pause work, serve tea, water and biscuits, and attend to visitors because they believe meetings can be postponed.
She also joked that her casual work-from-home attire, often consisting of mismatched tops and pyjamas, makes it even harder for others to believe she is working.
‘People think I’m having fun’
Dogra said misconceptions about remote work extend beyond family members and include friends as well.
She said people often assume working from home is easy, whereas she feels she works continuously with little separation between professional and personal responsibilities.
Ending the video on a humorous note, she joked that it sometimes feels as though her employer allowed her to work from home so she could also look after guests.
The video was shared with the caption, “Bro, people who work from home get no respect at all.”
Social media users share similar experiences
The video prompted many users to recount similar experiences of balancing office work with household expectations.
One user commented, “Work from home means work for office and home.”
Another wrote, “Laptop khula hai, but everyone thinks I am on holiday.”
A third joked, “The biggest WFH meeting is serving tea to guests.”
Another user remarked, “Salary company deti hai, but duties poora ghar assign karta hai.”
Disclaimer: This article is based on statements and opinions expressed by the content creator in a publicly shared social media video. The views, opinions and expressions are solely those of the creator and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Economic Times. The Economic Times has not independently verified the claims made in the video. The copyright and ownership of the video remain with the original creator.
