Afraid of saying 'no' at workplace? Pune techie shares 4 hacks to refuse extra work

Most of us have been there — nodding along to extra tasks, late-night requests, and last-minute projects just to look dedicated. But saying yes to everything doesn’t always earn you respect; sometimes, it only makes you the go-to person for overload. Rohit Yadav, a techie from Pune, learned this lesson early in his career. Now, he’s sharing how he politely refuses extra work while keeping his boundaries intact — without coming across as rude.

Rohit admitted that in the beginning, he said yes to everything, thinking it showed commitment. Instead, it made him look like someone who could always take on more. Over time, he figured out simple yet effective ways to say no without hurting relationships or his professional image.

4 hacks to say no to extra work at office
His four go-to strategies are practical.

1. Always give a reason
For example, pointing out that you’re already occupied with a project.

2. Giving a timeline
Always offer a timeline and let the person know when you can take it up later.

3. Redirect the task
You can redirect the task to someone who’s better placed to handle it.

4. Keep your tone polite
And finally, keep the tone polite and professional because the difference between being seen as lazy and being seen as clear lies in how you say it.

For Rohit, saying no isn’t about shirking work; it’s about protecting focus and ensuring quality. His advice strikes a chord with anyone who’s ever struggled to balance ambition with boundaries.