Hustle culture, in recent years, has been called out for being toxic as it creates burnout from working long hours and sacrificing self-care and health, with many still earning meagre incomes. Hence is why work-life balance is an important aspect to consider while pursuing a career.
Take contract doctors for example, they often work tirelessly for countless hours only to be paid stingily and treated poorly, with little to no consideration for their physical and mental wellbeing. This goes the same for a lot of people who are hustling and working hard in various industries in Malaysia.
Hence is why many are currently rages against local celebrity, Janna Nick, for apparently laughing at the current generation for wanting a proper work-life balance, as showcased in a short clip from her appearance on Studio Sembang.
In the short clip, she says, “I always noticed that, the generation nowadays, they want to have work-life balance (laughs). Sorry ah, I have work-life balance when I’m 28-years-old now, after I have a certain amount, after I bought 2 houses, after I have a car.”
“I’m not saying this to be boastful or to show off, no. I’m saying that I can relax a bit after I have already secured certain things in my life. If you still haven’t, as people say, your first goal in your life, you have not achieved it, you don’t ever think of having work-life balance. Unless, your mother and father are rich. Then, you can do that, okay?”
Studio Sembang host, actress Amelia Henderson, then agreed with Janna Nick’s statement as she added, “Unless your mother and father are rich. Unless you want to marry a rich man. That’s all.”
This rubbed many the wrong way
Netizens believe that comparing an entire generation’s need for work-life balance to her own is unfair considering earning as a celebrity versus earning as blue and white collar workers is vastly different, and not everyone who hustles are rewarded accordingly.
“If she wasn’t an artists, I would still listen. If you’re an artist, your payments are not basic monthly payments, it’s not the same as those working for a salary. Even if we hustle, our salaries are just as that. So, it’s not wrong to want work-life balance. People’s lives, let them work it out themselves. As long as they’re healthy and can go to work, it’s all okay.”
“Of course we need work-life balance, us ordinary folks don’t get paid thousands to act in an office love story with the boss and then go for lunch. We sit in an office doing real work that consumes energy from the body and mind for meagre salaries. Even if we want to buy a kinder egg, we would think about it 3-4 times first.”
Though, among the outrage are some who are pointing out that the 1-minute clip doesn’t provide the entire context to Janna Nick’s point of view
As explained by Studio Sembang host Amelia Henderson, the full episode shares how Janna Nick had to work at a very young age to put food on the table for her family and the efforts she had to put in to achieve what she has today.
“Janna is not laughing at anyone who wants to achieve work-life balance. She’s laughing because only she knows how much WORK she had to put in to achieve her own work-life balance.”
“We all have opinions, there are people who are not chasing financial goals in life, that’s totally okay! But this episode is about Janna, her life and her journey. I agree with what Janna said. I think there will be people out there who do as well,” she wrote.
You can check out the full episode of Studio Sembang here:
Do you agree with what Janna Nick said? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.
Also read: WATCH: Students Rally at UiTM After They Disallowed Syed Saddiq From Entering For Talk
