Man Lists Pros and Cons of US Exchanges in India: 'Higher Pay, Disturbed Sleep Cycle'

A social media post discussing the reality of US shift work from India has sparked an online debate, with many experts weighing the financial benefits against the potential impact on health and personal lives.

The discussion started after Instagram user Sayak Roy shared a video detailing what it’s like to work from 7:30 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., a schedule commonly followed by staff handling international clients and teams based in the United States.

Higher salary, international exposure among key benefits

In a caption accompanying the video, Roy outlined what he sees as the main benefits of the US transitioning out of India.

“Benefits of working an American shift (7:30pm to 4:30am) from India: Higher salary with night shift bonuses, working with empathetic people and a humane work culture where there is no strict working after hours, contact with international clients and better communication, flexible hours for personal work and side tasks and no Monday blues because work starts on Monday evening.”

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The post highlighted the factors that often attract professionals to overseas 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.

“Disrupted sleep cycle and poor sleep quality”

While acknowledging the benefits, Roy also highlighted the challenges of working overnight.

“Disadvantages of working an American shift (7:30pm to 4:30am) from India: Disrupted sleep cycle and poor quality sleep because India does not stop just because you are sleeping, higher chances of health problems such as obesity and digestive problems, difficulty maintaining a social life and relationships, mental health problems such as anxiety and mood swings, eye strain, reduced physical activity due to night work, lower physical activity.

The remarks struck a chord with many social media users, especially those who have spent years working non-traditional schedules.

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Social media users share their experiences

The post quickly attracted comments from people who said it could relate to both the rewards and the hardships of working night shifts.

One user wrote: “Yes, higher pay and the main portion goes to doctors. Everyone doesn’t like night shifts.”

Another commenter echoed Roy’s observations, saying, “I’ve been doing this for 5+ years, I totally agree with the pros and cons!!”

Some users have claimed that such plans can suit a specific personality type.

“Best for night owls and people who consider the dead silence of the night to be their usual zone, so…yes, of course, I’d say a different breed,” commented a third user.

Others sought advice on how to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal commitments while working unconventional hours.

“How to balance social life and night shifts? Because I’ve been doing a shift in the UK for the last 9 months and I’m still figuring out my work and social life even though I’m remote,” wrote another user.

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Concerns about long-term health effects

Several commenters also expressed concern about the potential long-term effects of overnight work.

“The biggest problem with night shifts is being constantly awake at night, which increases the chances of developing mental/psychological illnesses,” said one user.

Another cautioned against seeing such plans 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 the cons. I would prefer the day shift over the US shift any time if the opportunity is there,” the user wrote.

The discussion reflects a wider debate among professionals working on global plans from India. While higher salaries, career growth, and international exposure continue to attract many workers to American shifts, concerns about sleep quality, physical health, and work-life balance remain recurring themes for those navigating life in another time zone.