A Russian Woman's Candid Take: Indian Office Culture Through Foreign Eyes

A Russian woman living and working in Bengaluru for over a decade recently shared her unique observations about Indian office culture, highlighting both its warm interpersonal aspects and challenging professional dynamics.

In a detailed Instagram post, she reflected on how practices commonplace in Indian workplaces can appear unusual or even “abnormal” compared to global standards. Among her key observations were that many employees tend not to leave the office until their direct manager departs, illustrating a hierarchical office environment deeply rooted in respect and workplace norms.

She also noted the frequent late-night work culture, pointing out that calls as late as 11 pm and emails sent at midnight are quite common in India. This reflects a blurring boundary between personal life and work, with many young professionals living for their jobs rather than balancing work and personal time.

The Russian expatriate pointed to office politics as being on “a very different level,” underscoring the competitive and often complex interdepartmental dynamics prevalent in Indian companies. She observed that competition is fueled by abundant young talent and drives a highly charged work atmosphere.

Despite these challenges, she emphasized the caring nature of colleagues, recounting how coworkers frequently checked on her well-being, asking if she had eaten or taken a coffee break. This highlights a compassionate side of Indian office culture that supports camaraderie.

Her post sparked widespread discussion online, with many in Bengaluru and beyond reacting strongly. Some agreed that work-life balance is a significant challenge in Indian offices, criticizing the pressure to conform to demanding work hours and the intrusion of managers into personal matters.

Others pointed out gradual improvements, such as increasing awareness about personal finance and investment among employees, signaling a slow cultural shift.

Overall, her perspective sheds light on how Indian office culture is a complex mix of strong personal bonds, intense competition, and demanding work ethics — elements that can be both enriching and taxing for employees.