Indian IT professional gets ‘culture shock’ at her workplace in Italy: ‘At 6:01 pm office is a ghost town’

Indian IT professional gets ‘culture shock’ at Italian workplace. (Image: europekasafar/Instagram)

An Indian IT professional recently shared her experience of her first day at work in Italy, describing moments that gave her culture shock. What began as a personal reflection soon turned into a viral moment, with many people reacting to what they described as a ‘dream office’.

The woman, identified as Jyoti, shared her experience online after joining an Italian company. In her Instagram post, she listed 12 things that stood out to her on day one, highlighting cultural differences that left her both shocked.

She began her post with a moment that immediately showed the contrast she felt. Jyoti wrote, “Called my boss ‘Sir’ — They laughed and told me to use his nickname. In Italy, we’re all equals!”

Another moment that stayed with her involved something as everyday as coffee. Jyoti explained that when she tried to pay, her manager literally blocked the card machine and said, “As long as I’m here, you don’t pay.”

Explaining further, time and attendance also worked very differently from what she expected. Jyoti admitted she was worried about clocking in on time, but soon realised that no one was watching the clock. She wrote, “Nobody asks exactly when you come or go. As long as the work is done, you are free. No micromanaging here!”

Breaks, especially coffee breaks, turned out to be non-negotiable. Jyoti recalled making what she described as a “big mistake” by saying she was too busy for a break. She wrote, “You are never too busy for the Caffè. It’s the most important ‘meeting’ of the day!” She also added that work talk was not welcome during this time.

Inclusion in the office came naturally, without formalities. Jyoti said she waited to be invited to join group conversations, only to realise that such barriers did not exist. She mentioned, “Waited for a formal ‘invite’ — They didn’t wait; they just grabbed my arm and made sure I was included in the group.”

She also spoke about work hours, which challenged her expectations of a constant hustle culture. She revealed, “At 6:01 PM, the office is a ghost town. It’s almost a ‘crime’ to call or message after hours. Your time is yours!”

Her colleagues, she said, became her ‘biggest cheerleaders’. Rather than judging mistakes, they helped her learn. As the day went on, Jyoti realised that the workplace was about more than productivity. She described a deeper connection among colleagues. “Thought it was ‘just a job’ — Realised office hours are for building a family. They see the person, not just the developer,” she expressed.

She ended her post by writing, “The culture shock in Italy is real, but it’s the kind that makes you never want to leave.”

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A post shared by Move to Italy with Jyoti (@europekasafar)

The post quickly gained attention and sparked a wider discussion about work-life balance. Many users praised the culture she described, while several Italians expressed surprise and even disbelief, saying that such an experience is far from common in their country.

One user wrote, “I'd like to know where you work, because this is rare in Italy. You were lucky.” Another added, “Haha, I work in Italy, and this is definitely not my experience, but I'm genuinely so happy for you!”

Some reactions were more critical. One commenter said, “That's a dream!! You are just lucky enough to have found a nice place. 1/10. Italy is really not the ‘bel paese’ anymore.”

An Italian woman also shared her perspective, stressing that this is not the norm. She wrote, “I’m Italian, born and raised here. I’ve been working here for 12 years and this is not how it works in Italy. Glad for you that you are happy and you’re enjoying your life here but let’s not give the idea that this is how it works here, you’ve just been lucky.”

Another Italian expressed similar surprise, “Being Italian … this shocks me too! I’ve been in three different companies, and this is not the Italian standard. They checked when u enter and leave the office; bosses do not ask u about ur weekend; lucky u !”