A recent social media post by an Indian professional named Karan has gone viral, highlighting the significant differences he observes between work cultures in India and abroad. Working remotely for a Canadian startup, Karan shared the perks that contribute to his improved work-life balance.
“I work remotely for a Canadian startup!” Karan stated, detailing the advantages such as flexible working hours with only weekly updates, a competitive salary, and an informal environment where first names are used. He also noted the absence of mandatory US shift work and a sense of near-equal pay across the team, fostering an atmosphere that encourages open idea exchange and minimizes leadership-induced pressure.
Karan elaborated on the positive impact of this approach: “With this freedom, no project has been delayed; all are on time. Their mindset is to deliver projects and take a week off for learning. No one cares about working hours; we sometimes work weekends or relax all week. Indian companies are stuck in an endless workforce grind.” He concluded by stating, “I’d never prefer a job at an Indian company, even with a better CTC.”
However, Karan later acknowledged that this seemingly ideal setup isn’t without its downsides. In a follow-up comment, he admitted, “Firing is also fast. No one helps you in real time. Any turbulence in the US can affect my job. Staring at the screen for 10 hours a day in a dark room is torture.”
Social Media Reacts to Work Culture Differences
Karan’s post ignited a widespread discussion on work culture disparities. Users chimed in with their own experiences and opinions.
One user commented, “We do need to change the working culture in Indian companies if we want to attract and retain best of employees.”
Another shared, “I recently resigned from my company just because of this, founder wanted me to work after hours and I was on a date.”
Comparisons were drawn to other international work environments: “Currently working for a US based firm, working hours don’t matter much but deliverables do, you have very slight immunity if you screw up. Apart from this, there’s no politics, unnecessary timings bs,” stated one commenter. Another added, “Same experience. I am with Swedish firm. They are chill and work is like govt job for me.”
Reflecting on his own experiences, one X user commented, “I can never imagine working for Indian companies after all the companies I’ve worked with from outside India. The closest experience is me getting scammed while freelancing by an Indian client. Never again.”