For employees, obtaining leave is often complicated, especially in India, where staff may worry about management's reaction, leave approval, and completing work tasks. However, the experience of one Indian woman living in New Zealand turned out to be completely different.
She shared on social media that when she requested eight days of leave from her manager, she did not have to face any questions or problems. On the contrary, the manager happily approved her request and advised her to enjoy the trip. This incident caused significant resonance on social media as the woman shared her comparison of the work cultures of New Zealand and India.
The woman, named Nishtha Choudhary, lives and works in New Zealand. She reported that she planned an eight-day trip to see her sister. For this, she approached her supervisor with a request for leave. According to Nishtha, when she informed the manager about wanting eight days off, he first asked about the destination. After she told him about the trip, the manager's reaction was exceptionally positive and normal; he expressed joy and wished her a pleasant journey. Nishtha was particularly surprised by the absence of lengthy inquiries regarding her leave or questions about how the workflow would be managed.
Her sister received a similar response
Nishtha also mentioned that her sister had requested leave at her job and encountered a similar experience there. Her sister's manager also easily agreed to the leave, explaining that there wasn't much work during that period, so she could travel peacefully. Both sisters noted that it was unusually easy for them to get approval from their supervisors. When Nishtha told her family and relatives in India about this, they were very surprised that an eight-day leave was approved so easily.
One of Nishtha's relatives recently started working at a large company and reported that they didn't even grant him one day of leave, and sometimes he has to work even on weekends.
This aspect makes Nishtha's experience special to a wide audience. Leave is not only an opportunity to rest but also an indicator of how much a company values its employees' personal lives. Nishtha emphasized that in New Zealand, her leave requests, regardless of the reason—illness, attending a graduation, or attending a friend's birthday—were usually approved by her manager, who understood her needs. Her office culture is based on the understanding that employees have a personal life outside of work, and every person needs time for family, friends, health, and personal happiness. Nishtha's experience demonstrates that a good work culture is formed not only through high salaries or luxurious offices but also through respect for employees and consideration of their personal needs.
After Nishtha's video went viral on social media, users actively reacted to it. Many praised the work culture of New Zealand, calling it a true work-life balance. Others shared their own experiences from India. One user jokingly noted that in India, a leave request sometimes feels like an interview. Others stated that every workplace should value the personal life and mental peace of its employees. Nevertheless, this experience pertains only to a specific workplace, and the experience of all employees in every company or country may differ. Nonetheless, this video certainly initiated a broad discussion about work-life balance and granting leave to employees.