A worker branded ungrateful for refusing an RM7,000 on-site role sparks debate as netizens argue flexibility and saved commute costs outweigh the pay rise.
A WORKER’s decision to reject a higher-paying job in favour of a remote working arrangement has triggered widespread discussion online after a recruitment agency allegedly criticised the decision and labelled the individual “ungrateful”.
The discussion began after a Threads user shared that they currently earn RM5,000 a month while working entirely from home.
According to the post, the user recently declined a job offer worth RM7,000 a month because the role required full-time office attendance, offered no flexible working hours and involved a daily commute of about two hours.
The user said the decision prompted an unexpected phone call from the recruiter handling the placement.
According to the post, the recruiter allegedly described the user as “ungrateful” for rejecting the offer and suggested that they would struggle to find a better opportunity elsewhere.
In a follow-up clarification, the user explained that the remarks came from a recruitment agency representative rather than the hiring company’s human resources department.
The user said the company’s HR had informed them that the salary offer was final, while the recruiter later called to provide what was described as an “honest opinion”.
The accusation of being ungrateful, the user said, was particularly upsetting.
The post quickly attracted attention on Threads, with many users defending the decision to prioritise flexibility and work-life balance over a higher salary.
One commenter wrote: “Good job for turning down the offer. Choosing flexibility is better than doing a job you hate,” adding that the salary difference was “not that significant”.
Another described the recruiter’s alleged response as a “red flag”, arguing that such comments were unprofessional.
Many users also highlighted the hidden costs associated with working on-site.
One commenter said the additional RM2,000 in salary would largely be absorbed by fuel, tolls, parking, vehicle maintenance and other commuting expenses.
Another said that after experiencing remote work, returning to a fully office-based role could be difficult unless there were substantial financial or career advantages.
A further user summed up the prevailing sentiment by writing: “Better RM5k working from home than RM7k on-site with hours of commuting.”
