A former Infosys software engineer has ignited a conversation on work-life balance after his Instagram video comparing workplace cultures in India and Germany went viral. In the post, Kaustav Bannerjee, who now lives in Germany, clarified that his remarks were not aimed at any specific organisation but reflected his experience of Indian work culture in general.
“Back in 2013, I had just passed college, and I did not even know the term ‘work-life balance,’” Bannerjee wrote. He described Indian workplaces as environments where burnout is normalized and overperformance is expected. "It’s very common in Indian workplaces to burn out yourself and give 200 percent. That is the expectation and that is what everyone does. So if you don’t do it, you will start falling back in the race."
‘Nobody cares about your well-being’
Bannerjee alleged that personal health and family life often take a backseat in Indian corporate settings.
"Nobody cares about your well-being, your health. Your family is not even in the picture! Nobody cares what you are going through, how you are feeling. It’s only work work work. You need to keep on delivering at high speed."
He also criticised the approach to vacation policies, claiming they exist largely to comply with labor laws rather than to support employees.
"Vacation days are only for the company to abide by the labour laws. They are just for show. You cannot avail them. You have to work on weekends if the project requires. You might or might not get a compensatory off, but again it will add to your leave balance—you are not allowed to take it."
Applying for leave, he said, felt like “the biggest challenge” in an employee’s life. "Nobody is willing to approve it."
Read more: Infosys CEO addresses questions on toxic work culture, stagnant salaries
‘This all changed after I moved to Germany’
Bannerjee contrasted this with his experience in Germany, where he found a workplace culture that prioritizes employee well-being and respects personal time.
"This all changed after I moved to Germany. I saw a better culture at the workplace and I cannot even start to praise the numerous good things."
Social media users empathise with techie
Bannerjee's candid observations have sparked widespread discussion online, with many users echoing his concerns about burnout and unrealistic expectations in Indian corporate life.
"I don’t know how many times I killed my grandparents who reached heaven decades ago to take leaves which I get with my CTC and have all the rights to utilise them," commented one Instagram user, while another said, "True, in India, the manager thinks that we are slaves and we don't have personla life. They say we are family. I came to know during Covid who is family. When we make profits, the company feeds, and when we are fired, the family feeds. That is the reality."
Read more: Infosys techie, 27, quits job to take up brinjal farming in Japan, earns double
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