No time for the nine to five

Bipasha Basu recently admitted she'd never survive a routine job. We talk to Bangaloreans who think the same.
She may be a happening filmstar who has nothing in common with you, but when Bipasha Basu says she'd never be able to work in a corporate set-up, many identify with her. "It's difficult to imagine myself working in a corporate ambience -- the 9 am to 5 pm routine job," Bipasha said in a recent interview.
There are others who admit they wouldn't survive a day in the office. With no freedom to walk in and out of work whenever, a boss to report to, and targets to be met, work, to them, seems anything but fun.
Graphic designer Smita Sajnani tried out the 9 to 5 work setup before she decided to work out of home. She says the only way she'd survive a 9 to 5 job was if it remained 9 to 5, but that's never the case. "That's thanks to those people who don't go home before 1am. They make the rest of us who go home early look bad." While it can be distracting working from home, Smita loves the independence. "You can choose projects; wake up whenever you like, as long as you're disciplined about your work. You can go shopping when you want," she says.
Model Roshan Issac may be walking the ramp most of the time, but he's also a technician with an MNC. "Mine isn't the typical 9 to 5 job. I work shifts and that way, I find time to do what I like." Roshan can't imagine sitting in front of a computer all day and says any job should involve interaction with people in order to be interesting. "I like my work because I get trained often, I meet different people and I take up different projects."
It's all about what makes you tick, says theatre person and jewellery professional Deepti Sudhindra. "There are some people who can't wait to get to work at 9am. Personally, I can't wake up at 9 and say I have to do 25 designs today." Deepti needs her space and freedom to function. "There's more pressure to a routine job and you have to accomplish much more. However, when you do the same thing every day, a part of your brain remains inactive and it makes you dull." So why do some people still choose the 9 to 5 job? "Because it's less of a risk. You get your paycheck at the end of the month," says Deepti.
But for some, like soft skills trainer Jayanti Sharma, it's not about the money. Her office is where she finds solace. Jayanti adds she can't imagine life without working from 9 am to 5 pm. "I started working when I was 30 and now that I've been doing this for three years, I don't know how I managed without this routine." Jayanti says a regular 'job' keeps her mind occupied and doesn't let her mull over mundane home matters. "This is where I escape to, when life gets to me. My colleagues have become family."