A Bengaluru woman shared a highly debatable video comparing work culture in India and the US. The video has sparked a discussion on long working hours, office pressure, and work-life balance. The woman, named Sakshi on Instagram, shared her experience during a work trip to the US and said she was surprised to see the office empty by late afternoon.
In the video, she said, “I think Indian corporate mindset is so screwed up. We are so used to working late, working more. I am in the US for a work trip, and I went to the office yesterday. I reached around 9:30-10:00 am. At 4:30 pm, the entire floor was empty. I came under peer pressure and left the floor at 5:00 pm. And then I was free, like, seriously free.”
Watch video below 👇
Why in India, late working is glorified? pic.twitter.com/Vb3mY479zf
Advertisement— Hellobanker (@Hellobanker_in) May 15, 2026
She added that the early end to her office day allowed her to do something she rarely gets time for in India. “After that, I went for a hike, I saw the sunset, and for the whole three hours, I kept thinking that I have time to do something after office. Whereas in India, my office day starts at 9:00 am, something like that, and I have meetings until 10:00 pm. Forget about sunset or a walk, I don’t get time to cook or eat dinner. Can this be fixed? I don’t know,” she said.
This is a bitter truth in India. In corporates and banks, if an employee stays late in the office, that employee is considered hardworking, whereas smart employees are often ignored and punished. If we talk about the banking industry, the trend of late sitting is increasing in banks. Most employees reported that they leave the branch at 8 PM or 9 PM, and this practice should change.
