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A single work email sent at 6 am has gone viral, not because it showed dedication, but because it highlighted the importance of work-life balance in the Netherlands.
An X user shared that when he sent an early-morning work email to his Dutch employer, the response was unexpected. Instead of appreciation, the company called a meeting to check whether the employee was under unnecessary work pressure. The employer even apologised in case their work culture had given him the impression that he needed to work outside normal hours.
The post quickly resonated with professionals across the world, especially those used to late-night emails and weekend work. In the Netherlands, long working hours are often seen as a sign of poor planning, not commitment.
The country consistently ranks among the top nations for work-life balance. According to the Hague International Centre, employees usually maintain strict boundaries between work and personal life, with evenings and weekends kept largely work-free. Dutch labour laws support this approach, with average working hours ranging between 29 and 36 hours per week, among the lowest globally.
The viral post also drew attention to a similar incident shared earlier on Reddit. A Dutch employee working for a US tech company said he was criticised by his American manager for logging off exactly at 5 pm. He was questioned for not replying to weekend emails and for declining a late-evening Zoom call.
The employee responded by explaining that in the Netherlands, finishing work by 5 pm is not a lack of dedication. Instead, it reflects efficiency and proper staffing. He also reminded his manager that contacting employees outside working hours for non-emergencies is frowned upon, and that his contract was for 40 hours only, not nights and weekends.
When the manager threatened a Performance Improvement Plan, the employee escalated the matter to Dutch HR. According to the post, the HR team dismissed the issue, and the manager eventually stopped sending emails after office hours.
The stories sparked widespread discussion online, with many users comparing global work cultures. Several noted that in the Netherlands, working overtime is often viewed as a failure of management, not employee commitment.
For many, the viral moment served as a powerful reminder that work-life balance is not a luxury everywhere. In some countries, protecting personal time is not just encouraged—it is an essential part of professional life.
