'Indian work ethic is not okay': Man who moved to Norway says he was scolded for working on weekends and postponing vacations

For years, Vinod believed hard work meant putting in extra hours, answering emails on weekends, skipping lunch breaks, and sacrificing vacations when deadlines demanded it. It was the work culture he had grown up with and one he proudly carried when he moved from India to Norway nearly 15 years ago.

What happened next left him stunned.

In a post on X, Vinod shared how his Norwegian boss once called him into a meeting. Expecting praise for his dedication, he instead received a reprimand.


The reason? He had replied to work emails on a Saturday and cancelled a planned vacation to complete a project without informing his manager.

According to Vinod, his boss told him that such behavior was unacceptable. Vacations, he was reminded, were not optional but mandatory. More importantly, his actions were setting the wrong example for younger employees who might begin to believe that overworking was the only way to demonstrate commitment.

"I got scolded for working too much," Vinod wrote, recalling his disbelief at the time.


Back in India, he said, such actions might have been celebrated as signs of exceptional dedication. In Norway, however, they were viewed as unhealthy and potentially harmful to workplace culture.

The experience forced him to rethink his relationship with work.

"It made me see the hustle, the anxiety, and the constant need to keep grinding," he wrote. Looking back, he realized how much that mindset had quietly cost him over the years.

Responding to comments on the post, Vinod clarified that he still values hard work but believes problems arise when work becomes driven by guilt, fear, or silent suffering rather than purpose.

He also noted that Scandinavia remains unique when it comes to prioritizing work-life balance. While countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany are often perceived as having healthier workplace cultures, he argued that Scandinavian nations stand out for placing greater emphasis on employee well-being and personal time.

The story struck a chord with many social media users, especially professionals familiar with demanding corporate environments.

One user summed up the contrast bluntly: "They are living life. We are just living."

Another remarked that the culture Vinod described as the "Indian work ethic" continues to dominate many workplaces, where long hours and constant availability are often mistaken for commitment and productivity.