A 25-year-old Indian woman living in London has refused to return to the office five days a week, citing high commuting costs and stagnant salaries. Taruna Vinaykiya, a global influencer strategy manager, took to LinkedIn to share her frustrations about the return-to-office (RTO) mandate.
She argued that spending a significant portion of her salary on commuting made little sense, especially when most office work still involves virtual meetings.
Despite a stable job, Vinaykiya is worried about financial stability. She admitted to struggling to meet basic living expenses in London. She could not even dream of ever owning a home. Rising costs and low pay have made it difficult for Gen Z employees to save any money.
She also pointed out the lack of career mobility, with top leadership positions being held by people who will not retire soon. Therefore, opportunities were limited for younger employees who have already given up the thought of climbing up the corporate ladder.
With no salary hikes, Vinaykiya claimed that Gen Z cannot be expected to deal with the surging living costs. She compared their experience with older generations, who enjoyed workplace perks such as company-funded travel, bonuses, and stock options. In contrast, she rightly noted that today’s employees are usually left with minimal benefits, such as a beer or pizza on rare occasions at work.
Her honest post has since gone viral, attracting thousands of reactions and comments. Many LinkedIn users agree with her and shared similar frustrations about workplace expectations in the face of modern economic challenges. Her stance has resonated with many young professionals struggling with the financial realities of city life.
