India’s Microsoft engineer sparks backlash after revealing break-filled workday

Mansi Singhal, 24, who works at Microsoft’s Hyderabad office in India, went viral after posting an Instagram reel documenting her daily routine at work.

In the video, she said she typically arrives at the office by 9 a.m. and leaves at 6:30 p.m. However, much of the footage highlights non-work activities, including a 45-minute breakfast, a dessert break, a gaming session, and several snack runs, according to the New York Post.

The video quickly sparked widespread attention and criticism. Social media users scrutinized the timestamps and suggested that her day involved more leisure than labor. "That’s why Windows always has problems," another user wrote under Singhal's original post.

Tech companies, particularly those inspired by Silicon Valley, are known for offering lifestyle-focused perks, such as on-site gyms, nap pods, personal trainers, and unlimited paid leave. Many also promote flexible working hours and hybrid models, according to DigitalDefynd.

Mansi Singhal, a software engineer at Microsoft and based in India. Photo courtesy of Singhal's Instagram

Still, many users felt Singhal’s portrayal of her day went too far. "This woman started her lunch at 1:00 and didn’t resume work until 2:15? Unless she’s trying to eat an entire ham by herself, that’s crazy," one X user wrote. "I would be SO fried there. Pretending to work is more stressful than actually working," the person added.

Some defended her routine. "This is the schedule of a hard worker at Microsoft. The slackers are coming in at 11 and leaving at 4," a former employee commented under a post on X.

In a follow-up post after her video went viral, Singhal acknowledged that she tends to show the "good side of dev (developer) life" and admitted that the reality is often more chaotic and challenging than it appears online.

Nevertheless, the relaxed pace depicted in the clip led some to refer to such tech offices as "adult daycare." Others argued that this level of comfort should be the standard, particularly in an era where many roles can be performed remotely.

Still, not all prominent figures in the industry agree. Lucy Guo, the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire, told Fortune: "I love doing my job. I would say that if you feel the need for work-life balance, maybe you’re not in the right work."

Zoom CEO Eric Yuan told his employees, "Guys, you know, there’s no way to balance. Work is life, life is work," according to Business Insider.