“I was not ready for this,” says an Indian Techie returning from the US after a decade and is confronted with the realities of workplace culture.

The recent return of an IT professional to India after a span of ten years in the US is highlighting the significant cultural variations that exist in workplaces across the nation. The person described their experience of re-entering the Indian IT sector and discovering an incredibly tight and oppressive work atmosphere in a social media post that has rapidly garnered viral.

The professional described the first week on the job as a cultural shock after landing a job at a big product-based IT company in India within two weeks of his arrival. The communication approach used during team meetings and daily stand-ups was the most notable aspect.

He took to social media saying “A teammate demonstrated a feature they had been working on during one meeting.” Rather than praising the effort, the criticism was critical and direct. The tone was more akin to a teacher reprimanding a pupil for turning in their work late than it was to a professional review.

The returnee also mentioned that the firm did not adhere to regular working hours, which raised issues about work-life balance. I was informed on my first day that there was no set 9–6 timetable. “I should just do whatever it takes to finish the work.” he wrote. “Since then, I’ve witnessed a number of co-workers consistently working late hours in the night.

Accustomed to a rather structured and more empathetic work culture in the U.S the man said he is feeling unsettled. “Managers are acting more like strict principals than encouraging leaders, and it feels like I’m back in school ” He said, “I’m not sure if this is something I should really think about before settling in, or if I’m just responding too quickly.”

Professionals who have had similar changes or are thinking about returning to India have responded favorably to the article, which has generated a lot of conversation on Reddit. “I returned after five years, and professionalism still seems lacking,” one user said. You will require a great deal of patience. The change will be difficult because you have been gone for a long time. Focus on becoming a part of the change and give it a good six to eight months without passing judgment. Set a good example by driving and promoting progress. I am precisely doing that.

“It’s not work culture,” another person observed. A corporation is only a subset of the overall culture, which is what it is. Competition, stomping on others to advance, and a general lack of empathy are all prevalent. People who are perceived as below them in class, caste, etc. are typically impolite and speak in a condescending manner. Given how much time you’ve spent outside of India, it will really take a great deal of effort to change your compassionate and empathetic personality into one with a ruthless outlook. It all comes down to what you stand to gain from India, why you returned, and how significant those reasons are? If not, you would be better off making plans to head back to the West.

“This is why people are afraid to move back to work there,” a user said. People in this kind of culture treat employees like slaves who are supposed to serve without end, cut you off, show disdain for your job, openly laugh about unethical actions, etc. People with my level of education, who attended prestigious universities, etc., don’t want to relocate there because of this bad culture. For very good familial reasons, those who do do so. They must detest this kind of workplace atmosphere every day. Man, HR in India is what I detest the most. The worst animals of all.

After failing four consecutive H1B bids, I returned to India in 2018. I was thrilled to begin working for a reputable MNC after receiving several offers from India. I decided to relocate to Canada after less than a month at my new work. I was able to relocate to Canada within a year in 2018 since my CRS ratings were lower than they are now. I have never made a better choice in my life. I didn’t even fulfill the 90-day notice period that was “mandatory.” I quit after receiving my COPR, issued a courteous email stating that I would not be serving the notice period, and left my ID card, laptop, and charger at my desk. Another said, “I can’t imagine ever working in India again.”