Lawyer Says Gen Z Intern Refused 9 AM Court Duty Over Gym Schedule; Post Sparks Work-Life Balance Debate

New Delhi: A Delhi-based female lawyer has shared her experience working with a Gen-Z intern on social media, which has become a topic of debate. She claimed that the Gen Z intern refused to report to court at 9 am because the assignment clashed with his gym schedule.

What did the lawyer reveal?

While sharing the incident on X, the lawyer revealed that she asked the GenZ intern to reach the court by 9 am to handle some work. However the intern told her that it would not be possible as he had to go to the gym. But later the intern agreed to take up the assignment as a "one-time exception". 

The lawyer in a post on X, wrote, "Told an intern to reach Court by 9 AM to manage some work. He said that won't be possible, as he has to go the gym and agreed to do it as a one-time exception."

"At this point, I'm not sure if I'm his senior, his junior, or his personal assistant. Can't normalise this," she added.

How are people reacting?

As the post went viral on social media, opinions were divided among professionals, lawyers, and students. Some criticized the intern's work style, citing his personal routine as a priority over her core job responsibilities. 

Others argued that employees, especially young professionals, should have the right to set limits on their personal time. Several users also argued that the expectation of early start time should be based on the employee's working hours and salary.

A user wrote, "Is this a rage bait?? Cuz here we go..Are you paying him extra to compensate for early check in? The junior-personal assistance comment is so triggering. The sheer lack of self-awareness/entitlement is something else. And yes you should be glad he is making an exception for you."

Responding to this, the female lawyer wrote, "No one said 9 a.m. is early check-in. That's court and briefing time. And yes, our interns get paid and reimbursed for expenses. The real issue isn't the gym. The issue is that a normal work obligation is labeled a 'one-time exception,' and seniors are made to feel grateful for it."

Did the fenmale lawyer respond to the troll?

The lawyer later clarified that the issue was not the intern going to the gym or the timing itself. 

"Audience so sensitive that a basic, light hearted tweet becomes rage bait. Have we forgotten how to take a joke? Some of the replies seem to have taken the tweet much more seriously than even I intended. I already did his work. He went to the gym and rested. Now stop it."