A social media user said his employer in the Netherlands apologised to him after he sent a work-related email at 6 am, triggering concerns within the company about whether he was being placed under excessive pressure.
The account was shared on X and subsequently gained traction online, drawing attention to workplace norms in parts of Europe that emphasise limits on working hours and employee well-being.
According to the user, the early-morning email prompted the management to arrange a meeting to assess whether he was experiencing undue stress related to work responsibilities. During the discussion, the company reportedly expressed regret if its expectations had led him to feel compelled to work outside standard hours.
“First time I sent a work email at 6AM in the Netherlands, they called a meeting to discuss whether I was experiencing unnecessary work pressure of any kind, and they apologised if they gave me that impression,” the user wrote in his post on X.
The individual made the comment while responding to a Reddit thread in which another employee working in the Netherlands claimed that his American manager had attempted to formally reprimand him for not working beyond scheduled office hours and for logging off at 5 pm.
The post added to an ongoing online discussion comparing workplace cultures across countries, particularly between Europe and the United States.
The Netherlands has frequently been cited among countries with strong work-life balance standards and has consistently ranked high on the OECD Better Life Index. In the country, extended working hours are often viewed as a potential concern rather than evidence of commitment.
Information published by The Hague International Centre stated that employees in the Netherlands typically maintain clear separation between professional and personal time. It noted that work devices are generally switched off after 6 pm and that weekends are treated as personal time.
Labour regulations in the Netherlands also support reduced working hours. Average weekly working time in the country usually ranges between 29 and 36 hours, among the lowest globally.
The X post prompted responses from users across different regions, many of whom shared their own experiences.
“By now, many should know that working is not a EU thing,” one user commented.
Another wrote, “Started working in September and forgot to take leave that year because I really did not need it. They compulsorily put me on 2 weeks paid leave before the year ended.”
A third user said, “Reading this after spending extra time at work to close an alert. Americans really need a better work-life balance. But have you been to South Korea?”
One commenter from Belgium added, “Same here on Belgium. Perhaps the managers will work an extra 15 or 30 minutes here and there, but you can easily clock out at the exact time it takes for the 40 hours they pay you. It’s considered indeed bad management if your employees are constantly working overtime.”