A post about work culture in India has started a discussion online after a man shared his experience of working in several countries, including Europe, the UK, Canada, the US and India. The user argued that Indian work culture is not necessarily “hell” and said people often ignore other factors like commute, career goals and personal priorities.
The post, titled “Work culture in India is not hell. It is Subjective,” was shared by a Reddit user who compared professional life across countries. According to him, the experience of work culture depends a lot on what people want from life and how much pressure they are willing to handle in their careers.
User Compares India With Western Countries
In the post, the user said he often hears people complain about Indian work culture. However, based on his own experience abroad, he believes the issue is more complicated.
“So, I keep on hearing this a lot, ‘Work culture in India is hell’. I have worked in Europe, UK, Canada and USA. And in India. Work culture is always subjective. It all depends on what are you looking for. And are you ok with taking bs from your boss,” the user wrote.
He also spoke about the difference in mindset between Indian professionals and people in many Western countries. According to him, locals abroad are usually more comfortable with a stable and slower-paced life.
“Locals in the western countries can take life easy. They are okay with being a Senior Engineer all their life. They are okay with not building a large corpus, health and education is taken care by the country. They let their kids do whatever they want. But, that is never the case with Indians. Indians are always hustling and trying to be better than before,” the post said.
He Says Commute Is The Real Problem
The user further explained that many Indians, whether living in India or abroad, constantly try to improve their financial situation. He said people often take up side businesses, invest in property or look for extra income sources in addition to regular jobs.
“Most don’t really take long breaks or sabbatical to ‘find themselves’. Whether in India or abroad. And, they do want more money. Apart from a job, they will start doing a side business as well, shop, real estate etc,” the user added.
However, he argued that the biggest issue in cities like Bengaluru is not office work itself, but the long and stressful travel to work.
“The main problem in India is actually, commute. THAT is hell. If you can solve that, remote, hybrid, house near office, life becomes much better. Commute is the main reason Bangalore gets a bad name,” the Reddit user wrote.
He also said people are not always forced to work extremely long hours and that career growth often depends on the choices individuals make.
“You can choose to work 8 hours, or 6 hours as well. Yes, you will miss ‘Onsite’, or a promotion, or get a lower hike. But that can be worth it if you are okay with it,” the post read.
Reddit Users Share Mixed Opinions
The post received different reactions from users online. While some agreed with the argument, others said toxic workplaces and poor infrastructure remain major concerns.
A user commented, “I don’t find the commute in London or the weather in Europe horrible. The Tube is great. I would choose cold weather any day over 45°C heat, terrible AQI, and spending two hours stuck in a car, bumping over potholes and dealing with road rage.”
Another wrote, “Work culture may be subjective, but toxic managers are very real.”
A person said, “This is actually a balanced take. Not everyone wants the same career path.”
“You can’t compare salaries in Europe with those in cities like Bengaluru. I have worked in both places, and the differences in income, expenses and lifestyle expectations are significant,” another person added.
Someone else commented, “The point about compensation per hour is very true.” Another user wrote, “Indians are always under pressure to grow, earn and prove themselves.”