Utah Life Balance Says No Way San Jose To California Start Up Hours

In a world where the work-life balance pendulum is swinging dramatically in different directions, enter Daksh Gupta, CEO of Greptile in San Francisco, who recently admitted he's looking for employees willing to clock in an astonishing 84 hours a week. That's right, folks, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., five days a week, with weekends often thrown in for good measure.

Cue the gasps from the sane people of our great state. Utah is known for having one of the shortest workweeks in the United States, averaging just 37.1 hours. Utahns have mastered the art of living their best life without letting work run the show.

Gupta might think his “rocket launch” approach will lead his team to success, but let’s be real—Utah workers wouldn’t stand for it. Why grind away for 84 hours when you can get the job done in less than half that time, leaving plenty of room for skiing, hiking, or helping your neighbor move?

Utahns understand that burning the midnight oil isn’t the only way to shine. So, while Gupta may have his handful of takers, we are shaking our heads and chuckling over a dirty Dr. Pepper. We might not have the megalopolis companies of San Francisco—although we do have some challengers—but we have built a thriving economy and a fulfilling lifestyle without sacrificing sanity or weekends.

Read More: Work-Life Balance: Companies Embracing the 4-Day Work Week in 2024

So here’s to you, Utah! Keep doing what you do best—living proof that success doesn’t have to come at the expense of your soul. And for the rest of you, maybe it’s time to take a page out of Utah’s playbook. Less is sometimes more, and you don’t need to work 84 hours a week to prove your worth.