Workplace Culture: Indian vs. Foreign Managers and Work-Life Balance
A video surfaced recently on Instagram, showing an interaction between an Indian employee and his foreign manager that really stuck with people. Saurabh Verma shared this clip, talking about the moment his manager asked him to take time off for his child's first day at preschool. It left a real impression on him.
The gesture itself was heartwarming, of course. But it immediately started sparking huge conversations online. People were talking about workplace culture, about that whole work-life balance thing we always talk about.
Verma explained how it happened. He showed up late for a work meeting because it was his kid’s first day at preschool. He expected things to go along as usual. But instead of the usual push back he got something different. His manager actually told him to just log off and spend that day with his child.
The clip itself is pretty telling. Verma said, “Why Did You Even Join?” That was the setup. Then he revealed what happened next. He told his manager the same thing that he was late because of preschool. The reaction from the manager was intense. Shocked. He actually said something like, “Why did you even join the office today? Because today is very important and I think you should really be with your kid.”
Verma elaborated on what the manager actually told him. He claimed the manager essentially forced him to take leave. He told Verma he needed to go to his baby’s preschool because it was the first day, saying the child would be very scared. It felt like a complete shift in expectation.
This experience made Verma really think about how managers view family responsibilities versus work deadlines. He started comparing it to what happens in Indian workplaces. He wondered aloud: “Can you imagine any Indian manager could even think of this?” He suggested no, they just wouldn’t get it. He added that if they did understand, the response would be something cynical.
He mentioned a darker possibility. If an Indian manager saw him take time off for school and then go back to work, he might say something like, “Now that you have sent your kid to school and you don’t have a job there, let’s continue the work.” It felt harsh.
Verma stressed that everyone knows there is a huge gap between an Indian manager and a foreigner. Even some Indians recognize this difference, but it seems nobody actually wants to change anything. Managers need to see that certain life moments matter more than arbitrary deadlines or meetings. That needs to be recognized.
The video blew up online fast. People were sharing their own stories right away. Lots of people said they’d worked under foreign managers who genuinely prioritized family time.
One user commented something pretty direct: “Very true.” They shared an experience working for a German company in Mumbai. Their German manager always pushed everyone to use their annual leave. If you didn't take enough off by September or October, she would strongly insist sometimes even push that you took some weeks off.
That person felt that people should actually enjoy their time away from work. Recharge. Spend quality time with family. It wasn't just about ticking boxes at the office.
Then there were other reactions. Someone quipped, “Indian managers to ICU me lete huye employee se report mangte hai bhai.” It was a bit blunt, reflecting that feeling of being overly scrutinized.
Another comment just said they felt super blessed with their foreign manager and their office friends. A simple expression of relief, maybe.
And then there were the jokes about leaving. One person remarked, “This is why every Indian wants to leave India & travel to Western countries for Jobs.” It sounded like a reflection on the entire dynamic.
Someone else just joked, “Bhai vacancy hai.” Simple. Direct. Just pointing out that there’s an opportunity elsewhere. The whole thing felt less about corporate policy and more about where people actually want their time spent.
Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board
Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.
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