Kaustav‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ Banerjee, a software engineer from Kolkata presently living in Germany, has ignited a major debate on the contrasting reality of work culture in India with his recent Instagram post. His post about how his work experience differs in Germany and India has reached out to thousands of professionals who are suffocated in a system that prioritizes output over the well-being of employees.

The 200% expectation

The comparison is not only one of frustration of the person concerned, it is a systemic protest against the way Indian working places behave. Banerjee points to the difference that matters most: while German companies care about the wellness of the employee and working hours being properly divided, Indian companies barely expect the employees to go 200% out of their way.

And no, this is not a hint; it is an unspoken rule. Banerjee shares the words, "If you don't do it, you will start falling back in the race," illustrating the fight for survival that pushes employees to a never-ending spiral of excessive work.

Vacation days in India: A legal fiction, not a real benefit

The topic gets even more dramatic if one dives into the vacation days issue. In India, the vacation which should be a legal right turns into a rare opportunity. With a fit of biting sarcasm, Banerjee states, "Applying for vacation is like asking your manager for his kidney."

What he says isn't far from the truth. The employees get vacation days officially, but when it comes to taking vacation, they feel like betraying the company. And the working on weekends is a norm now. Though the compensatory offs are available, the number of leaves keeps on increasing, and employers hardly ever grant them.

The vacation days are there only for companies to comply with labor laws, a mere tick of the box, not a genuine benefit.

Living the difference

The reason that makes this comparison so impactful is the lived experience behind it. Banerjee isn't theorizing; he's lived both systems. In Germany, employees are entitled to work-life balance, receive support for mental health, and enjoy a culture that is aware of the fact that people are not machines.

Whereas, in India, the story reads like this: "Nobody cares about your wellbeing, your health. Your family is not even in the picture. It's only work, work, work."

The response that broke the internet

The statement deeply relates to the Indian tech workforce who are the architects of India's global Information Technology image but are facing burnout issues locally and thus the post attracted very fast reactions, mainly comments from people sharing their experiences. With a mix of dark humor, sarcasm, and exaggeration, one user wrote, "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 rights to utilize them."

Another simply put, "True. There is a great difference in work culture." A third one wrote, "12 years and the changes are incredible," implying that as time progressed, the awareness of the issue grew, yet very little change had occurred.

The hidden cost of India's competitive advantage

The larger suggestion is quite disturbing. One of the reasons for India's competitive advantage in the worldwide tech market has been that the country has depended heavily on pushing the overwork of people.

The young professionals who are enthusiastic about proving themselves and are scared of losing out follow the orders to an extent that is beyond the realm of possibility. Their mental health deteriorates quietly. Their creativity decreases because of the pressure. Their efficiency paradoxically goes down even though the hours are longer.

Wake-up call for Indian companies

Banerjee's post isn't merely a critique; it's a call for awakening. By Indian firms vying for talent on a global scale, they're turning away the skilled workers to countries that have a better work culture.

The experience in Germany is a proof that high productivity does not have to be accompanied by burnout. To be more precise, the well-rested and appreciated employees are frequently more productive and innovative. As long as Indian companies refuse to accept this fact, the emigration of talented individuals will persist and those with talent will opt for countries that value them more than ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌work.

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