Russian woman lists down observations after working 12 years in Bengaluru - 'Indian office culture ...'

A Russian woman who has been living and working in Bengaluru for the past 12 years recently shared her thoughts on Indian office culture, comparing it to work environments abroad.

In an Instagram post, she listed several habits and practices that are considered “normal” in India but might seem unusual or even “abnormal” in other countries.

• "Many employees wouldn’t leave the office until their direct manager went home."
• "Late-night calls around 11 pm or emails at midnight were quite common."
• "Politics is on a very different level and statement unfortunately."
• "Many young professionals lived for work rather than balancing it with personal life."

She spoke about colleagues checking on her well-being, staying at the office until the manager leaves, long commutes, late-night calls, and other daily experiences. She wrote:

“When I started my career in India 12 years ago, I was amazed by many things my colleagues did. They genuinely cared about me, asking if I had eaten breakfast, lunch, or even a cup of tea or coffee. It was such a warm and welcoming start to my career,” she said in her post.

“Many employees wouldn’t leave the office until their direct manager went home. Competition between departments was common, driven by a highly competitive environment and the presence of abundant young talent. Politics is on a very different level and statement unfortunately,” she added.

She even raised several work complexities in India. “Late-night calls around 11 pm or emails at midnight were quite common. Many young professionals lived for work rather than balancing it with personal life. With family responsibilities often extending beyond parents to relatives, the pressure to perform was immense,” she wrote in her post caption.

She concluded that people in India are hardworking, competitive, and carry significant pressure at work. To turn charcoal the diamond needs to burn. But surely not burn out. Work hard / rest harder.”

Social media reactions to her post were mixed. One user commented on the progress in financial awareness, another appreciated festival celebrations as a relief from overwork, while others noted the late-night calls and the unhealthy work culture.

Many agreed that her observations were accurate, though challenging aspects of Indian workplaces cannot be overlooked.