‘Work is just a part of life’: Indian in Germany shows nearly empty office before 5 pm, sparks debate over work culture in India

An Indian professional living in Germany has drawn attention online after showing an almost empty office floor just before 5 pm on a Monday, using the moment to highlight what he sees as a difference between workplace culture in Germany and India.

The man, identified as Mohit, shared the video on Instagram. In the clip, he remains at his desk before showing his phone, which reads 16:58, or 4:58 pm. He then turns the camera towards the office floor, where rows of desks and chairs appear largely unoccupied.

“Want to see the work culture difference between India and Germany? Here, take a look,” Mohit says in the video.


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A post shared by Mohit (@mohits_blickwinkel)

Office floor nearly empty before 5 pm

The short clip focuses on what Mohit presents as a routine scene at his workplace. With the clock showing two minutes before 5 pm, the office floor appears to have very few, if any, employees remaining at their desks.

The footage appears to suggest that workers leave once their scheduled hours are over rather than staying at the workplace beyond their usual timings.

Mohit uses the contrast to draw attention to differing approaches to professional schedules and boundaries between work and personal time.

‘Work is an important part of life’

Mohit also used the post to explain the idea behind his comparison, arguing that employment should remain one part of a person’s life rather than dominate it.

“Work is important part of life, but emphasis on part! It’s just a part, and it should be treated as one,” he wrote in the caption.

The post comes amid continuing discussions about working hours, after-office communication and expectations surrounding employees staying late. Mohit’s video presents his experience in Germany as an example of a workplace where the separation between working hours and personal time appears more visible.

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Social media users discuss Germany and India

The video prompted viewers to compare their own workplace experiences and discuss the broader differences between the two countries.

One user said their experience at SUSE had similarly encouraged a healthier approach to work, writing, “Yes i work at suse and taking a holiday is encouraged and working overtime is not a flex.”

Another questioned why workplace culture and compensation can differ despite employees working on similar tasks.

“Why india has the culture difference then , we work on the same stuff but the culture and pay are so different,” the user wrote.

Mohit’s post has therefore added another personal perspective to the ongoing online conversation about how working hours, professional expectations and personal time differ across countries.

An Indian man living in Germany has shared a video showing an almost empty office at 4:58 pm on a Monday, prompting discussion about workplace culture and work-life balance. Mohit compared his experience in Germany with India and argued that work should remain only one part of life. Viewers responded with their own experiences and comparisons.

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