After Europe trip, Indian employee faces workplace taunts; says 'coming back feels like being a corporate robot' on Reddit

A recent viral Reddit post has reignited discussions around the state of Indian work culture, exposing deep frustrations with the long hours, lack of boundaries, and unhealthy attitudes toward rest and productivity. The post, written by an employee who had just returned from a trip to Europe, contrasts the work-life balance observed abroad with the high-stress, always-on expectations in Indian offices. The experience shared not only struck a chord with thousands but also opened the floodgates for others to reflect on similar systemic issues plaguing Indian workplaces.

‘Back to Reality’: One Employee’s Jarring Return

The original poster, described how recharged and hopeful she felt after a break in Europe — a trip that briefly restored her energy. But within moments of returning to her Indian workplace, she encountered sarcastic remarks from colleagues implying she had taken too much time off or had escaped work. The pile-up of unread emails, urgent messages, and unplanned late-night meetings quickly erased her sense of renewal.

Rhea observed that in Indian workplaces, exhaustion is often glorified and taking breaks is viewed with suspicion. She wrote that burnout is seen as a symbol of dedication, and those who prioritize rest are frequently misunderstood or sidelined.

Commenters Reflect on Exploitative Work Norms

Others quickly joined in with their own observations. Many noted that in Europe, work-life boundaries are not only respected but protected — evenings and weekends are off-limits for work, and no one is expected to be reachable outside hours.

Some contrasted this with Indian offices, where efficiency often takes a back seat to appearances. Meetings are frequent but poorly run, multitasking is common, and being “busy” is often valued more than being productive. There’s a deeply ingrained belief that hard work must always involve personal sacrifice.

Several commenters mentioned the pressure to mirror their bosses' behavior. Even when tasks are complete, many feel compelled to stay back simply because their manager is still at work. This trickle-down expectation creates an unhealthy atmosphere where time spent at the desk becomes more important than outcomes.

Root Causes: Efficiency, Feudal Mindsets, and Lack of Laws

The conversation dug into why these patterns persist. Some argued that it’s not just long hours but disorganized work and blurred roles that exhaust people. A culture of micromanagement, lack of planning, and arbitrary urgency leads to days filled with interruptions and unnecessary delays.

Others pointed to feudal mindsets within organizations — seniority often means control, not guidance. Employees aren’t encouraged to push back, and questioning the norm can be seen as disrespectful. Over time, this creates a passive workforce conditioned to comply without challenge.

A few commenters also explored how global economic systems feed into this issue. They pointed out that Western companies, which champion work-life balance, often offload their most labor-intensive tasks to countries like India. This results in Indian employees shouldering disproportionate workloads with far fewer protections.