For many professionals, a higher salary is usually the biggest factor when choosing between two jobs. But one software engineer reportedly made a very different decision, putting work-life balance ahead of a bigger paycheck.
The story was shared by Dubai-based developer C J Teja Sai on LinkedIn. He revealed that his friend turned down a Rs 2 crore job offer in India and instead accepted a $160,000 (around Rs 1.5 crore) role in the United States because he valued predictable personal time more than a higher salary.
Why He Picked The US Job
According to Sai, he was surprised that his friend rejected the better-paying offer in India. When he asked why, his friend replied, “In the US, I log off at 5 PM. In India, I’d be expected to be available 24/7.”
Sai explained that although working in the US on a visa comes with uncertainty, his friend was willing to accept that trade-off. “Interestingly, he said he was okay with the visa pressure and uncertainty. For him, having predictable personal time mattered more,” Sai wrote.
He also pointed out that while a $160,000 salary converts to roughly Rs 1.5 crore, the actual spending power in the US is much lower because of the higher cost of living.
One Meeting Became The Final Straw
Sai also shared another example from a conversation with his friend’s uncle, who works in the US. According to him, the uncle once asked an engineering manager in India why he had suddenly resigned.
The manager said the breaking point came after a late-night meeting with colleagues in the US. The call was scheduled for 3 am in India and was supposed to last only 15 minutes.
Instead, it continued until 6 am. He explained that it was not a one-time incident but part of a work culture where employees were expected to stay available at all hours.
Sai said this expectation eventually pushed the manager to leave his job. The LinkedIn post started a discussion about whether salary alone should decide a career move.
Reflecting on his conversations, Sai wrote, “When we compare offers across countries, we usually compare salaries and taxes. Maybe we should also compare time, boundaries, and the ability to disconnect.”