Startup Employee Shifts From Flexible Working Hours To 9-5 Schedule, Says 'I Feel Mentally Down'

Workplace culture in startups often promises a relaxed, family-like atmosphere, which can be both appealing and challenging. A Reddit user, who joined a startup eight months ago, shared her struggle with adapting to this informal environment.

In her post, the woman revealed that she was introduced to a work culture where traditional 9 to 5 hours were abandoned in favour of flexible, often extended hours. She noted that the CEO encouraged employees to fully immerse themselves in their roles, offering a “freedom” that included casual interactions and flexible work habits.

“So, I joined this startup around 8 months ago and since it my first job I didn’t know what I was walking into, CEO was friendly and she said “We are like a family in here” and I was like that’s different from what I was imagined.. And she says there is no 9 to 5 in here.., she expects us to dream of the same thing and work overtime.., in return she offers freedom, by definition of freedom, we all talk like friends and joke around stuff, even NSFW stuff, going out at 10 am to drink tea(it’s worktime),” she wrote on Reddit.

This initially seemed fun, however, after six months, she decided to adhere strictly to a 9 to 5 schedule, which made her feel isolated. She shared that despite her efforts to balance work and personal life, her colleagues continued to engage in the relaxed culture, leaving her feeling “mentally down.”

“I played along for 6 months, but since 2 months ago I cut my freedom off and said I would only work for 9 to 5.., now I feel like I am alone in this mess (I am the youngest in this company), everyone else is still at fun and games, I don’t understand them but I feel mentally down. Any advice?” she added.

Take a look at the post here:

The Reddit post generated a whirlwind of reactions in the comment section from social media users.

One user commented, “All this family thing is crap. Work hours should be defined so we work in those hours and do our personal stuff outside that. If they provide flexible working hours then they’ll expect you to come and work on weekends as well. Being able to talk nsfw stuff with colleagues doesn’t pay our bills. It’s a low-key trap in my opinion.”

Another bluntly stated, “Bro company is never your family. Just do 9 to 5 that’s it.”

“Your well-being is important. So, setting work boundaries is good. The company should not have any issues as long as you complete your work on time. However, if the company doesn’t respect that, consider looking for other opportunities where you feel that your work-life balance are respected,” someone suggested.

Another advised, “Just move on. There is no point in escalating or dealing with petty stuff or cribbling around. Just move on.”