A social media post discussing the realities of working US shifts from India has triggered a discussion online, with many professionals weighing the financial benefits against the potential impact on health and personal life.
A copywriter's viral account of watching his six-figure monthly income collapse to
₹40,000 within weeks, allegedly due to his employer replacing staff with AI, has triggered a wave of reactions online, ranging from sympathy to sharp reality checks.Copywriter's Salary Crashed From
₹2 Lakh To
₹40,000(Pexels)A copywriter's account of his career unravelling within a matter of weeks has gone viral online, after he claimed that the rise of artificial intelligence directly led to his monthly income shrinking from
₹2 lakh to just
₹40,000. Sharing his story in a Reddit post titled "Went from 2l a month to 40k a month salary; the downfall of a lifetime," the user detailed how he lost all his ongoing projects and employment in a short span, eventually settling for a far lower-paying role at a Hyderabad-based agency.A Career Built From Scratch, Then UpendedAccording to his post, the man began freelancing eight years ago and secured his first full-time remote contract at the age of 18. By 22, he said, he was earning
₹2 lakh a month while working entirely from home — a milestone he attributed to years of self-taught skill-building despite being a college dropout. He described 2026 as the turning point that derailed everything he had built. "2026 was my curse. Lost all my jobs and projects, and my monthly income came down to literally nothing from the wuthering heights of a 6-figure salary, in a matter of two weeks," he wrote.Blames AI Adoption For Sudden Job LossThe Redditor, who had risen to the position of lead copywriter, alleged that his layoff was directly tied to his employer's decision to train artificial intelligence systems using existing staff output. "Until the AI wave crashed in. Well, I was apparently laid off from my job because they decided to train AI and take native employees," he claimed in his post.New Job, Same Responsibilities, Far Lower PayFollowing the layoff, he said he joined an agency in Hyderabad that currently manages marketing for Telangana Tourism. While relieved to have found employment again, he said the drastically reduced pay continues to weigh on him. "I'm being paid 40k a month, for a role bigger than my previous one, which used to pay me 2 lakhs a month. It makes my heart ache every day," he wrote, adding that he now leads the agency's Telangana Tourism marketing strategy despite the pay cut.He further expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of passion among his current colleagues. "On top of the stinging money issue, people around me are poor on creativity. They work for the sake of working. No love. No passion. That kills my motivation. Even though I do the work of 5 people now. I consider this the biggest downfall in my entire bloodline," he wrote.Internet Reacts With Mixed Advice And PerspectivesThe post drew a flurry of responses, with many users urging him to see the situation as temporary rather than permanent.A user wrote, “There's a reason most of us study hard and get the safe route. Sacrificing the chance of more money though more riskier routes. You took the risk, got lucky and made money when the time is right. But it's not always gonna be there. Changes happen in every generation and AI was the big change for ours.”"Na na, brother. You went from earning
₹0 a month to
₹40k a month. If you had the skills to get someone to pay you
₹2L a month once, those skills haven’t disappeared. I’m sure you’ll be back there before you know it," another user wrote."I went from 70k per month to 28k. I got laid off from a mental health startup very suddenly along with 7 other people. I work part time at another company in Singapore," shared the third user."My salary came down 1.2L post a year break due to personal reason. Was jobless for 10 months so took a lesser paying job. A thankless job with having to massage everyone’s ego! Happens, the point is to not lose hope and keep upgrading to jump as soon as good offer appears," the fourth commented."the 2l wasn't your worth, it was a rem
A social media post discussing the realities of working US shifts from India has triggered a discussion online, with many professionals weighing the financial benefits against the potential impact on health and personal life.The discussion began after Instagram user Sayak Roy shared a video detailing what it is like to work from 7:30 pm to 4:30 am, a schedule commonly followed by employees handling international clients and teams based in the United States.Higher Pay, International Exposure Among Key AdvantagesIn the caption accompanying the video, Roy outlined what he sees as the major benefits of working a US shift from India.“Pros of Working in US Shift (7:30 pm to 4:30 am) from India: Higher salary with night shift allowances, working with empathetic people and a humane work culture where there is strictly no work after office hours, exposure to international clients and improved communication, flexible daytime hours for personal work and side quests, and no Monday blues because work starts on Monday evening.”The post highlighted factors that often attract professionals to overseas-facing roles, including additional compensation through night-shift allowances and opportunities to interact with global clients. Roy also pointed to the flexibility of having daytime hours available for personal commitments and errands.‘Disturbed Sleep Cycle And Poor Sleep Quality’While acknowledging the benefits, Roy also emphasised the challenges that come with working through the night.“Cons of Working in US Shift (7:30 pmto 4:30 am) from India: Disturbed sleep cycle and poor sleep quality, as India does not stop just because you are sleeping, higher chances of health issues like obesity and digestion problems, difficulty maintaining social life and relationships, mental health challenges such as anxiety and mood swings, eye strain, reduced physical activity due to nighttime work, and lower energy levels during the daytime.”The remarks struck a chord with many social media users, particularly those who have spent years working non-traditional schedules.Social Media Users Share Their ExperiencesThe post quickly attracted comments from people who said they could relate to both the rewards and difficulties associated with night-shift work.One user wrote, “Yeah Higher Salary & Major Portion Goes to Doctors Everyone doesn't like Night Shifts.”Another commenter echoed Roy's observations, saying, “Been doing it for 5+ years now, completely agree with both pros and the cons, too!!”Some users argued that such schedules may suit a particular personality type.“Best for night owls and people who find the dead silence of night time as their usual zone so....yeah ofcourse, different breed i'd say,” a third user commented.Others sought advice on maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal commitments while working unconventional hours.“How to balance social life and night shifts ? 'Coz I'm doing UK shift since last 9 months and still figuring out my work life and social life, although I'm remote,” another user wrote.Concerns Over Long-Term Health EffectsSeveral commenters also expressed concern about the possible long-term effects of working overnight.“The biggest issue with night shift is continuously staying awake at night increases chances of developing mental/psychological diseases,” one user said.Another cautioned against viewing such schedules as glamorous despite the financial incentives.“Nothing fancy! Give it a year, and your body will go through drastic changes. I agree with the pros, but the cons outweigh them. I would prefer a day shift over a US shift any time, if the opportunity exists,” the user wrote.The discussion reflects a broader debate among professionals working global schedules from India. While higher salaries, career growth and international exposure continue to attract many employees to US-shift roles, concerns about sleep quality, physical health and work-life balance remain recurring themes for those navigating life
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