Indian techie replies to email on weekend, gets scolded by boss in Germany: ‘Fav culture shock'

The IT professional had grown accustomed to remaining reachable outside regular working hours while working in India.

A discussion about workplace expectations across countries has drawn attention online after entrepreneur Aditya Kondawar shared an anecdote about an IT professional who experienced a striking cultural difference after relocating from India to Germany while continuing with the same employer.

The account, posted on X, described how a routine action — responding to an email during the weekend — led to an unexpected reaction from a manager in Germany.

According to Kondawar, the professional had previously worked in India, where long working hours and frequent communication outside standard office time were often considered normal.

In his post, Kondawar explained that the IT professional had grown accustomed to remaining reachable outside regular working hours while working in India.

However, the situation changed after the employee moved to Germany but remained with the same organisation.

Kondawar wrote: “Met a IT professional, he was working in India before. The managers encouraged him to work 24*7 and on weekends too. Now he is in Germany, he replied to an email on a weekend. His manager pulled him up and scolded him for replying to a work email on a weekend. He says work cultures in same company but different geographies is poles apart!”

Met a IT professional, he was working in India before The managers encouraged him to work 24*7 and on Weekends too Now he is in Germany, he replied to an email on a weekend His manager pulled him up and scolded him for replying to a work email on a weekend He says work…

— Aditya Kondawar (@aditya_kondawar) March 9, 2026

The incident caught the attention of many readers online because it illustrated how workplace norms can vary widely between countries, even when employees remain within the same company.

For the employee involved, the experience served as a reminder that expectations around work availability and personal time may shift significantly depending on where someone is based.

After Kondawar’s post began circulating on social media, several users shared their own perspectives on how professional cultures can differ from one country to another.

Some commenters said that employees performing identical roles in the same organisation may still face different expectations depending on the country in which they work.

One user wrote: “Work culture really does vary a lot by geography. Same company, same role, completely different expectations about boundaries and personal time.”

Another commenter suggested that economic priorities often influence the way organisations structure their working culture. “Germany optimises for balance. India optimises for ambition. Both systems reflect what their economies prioritise.”

Other participants in the discussion examined structural factors that may shape workplace behaviour in different regions.

One user offered a longer explanation, writing: “The contrast isn't just about hours; it's about the cost of labour. In India, many firms treat human capital as an infinite, low-cost resource to solve every delay. Germany prices it differently. They view weekend work as a management failure that erodes long-term output. High-output cultures protect their downtime to ensure Monday is productive. Don't mistake activity for progress.”

Several users also pointed out that in some European workplaces, working during weekends is not necessarily interpreted as dedication or enthusiasm. Instead, it may be seen as an indication that workload planning or time management was inadequate.

Others noted that in certain roles, employees expected to remain available outside standard working hours receive compensation for that responsibility, even if they do not end up carrying out additional tasks.

The story has added to ongoing conversations online about differences in working patterns between countries, particularly regarding long hours and expectations of availability.

Comparisons between professional environments in India and parts of Europe frequently emerge in discussions about work-life balance, with many professionals pointing to contrasting attitudes towards overtime, personal time and employee wellbeing.