Do Indians feel guilty leaving work at 6 pm? Gurugram founder's post goes viral

Nistha Tripathi, founder of 24NorthStar, shared a LinkedIn post describing how employees in India often feel guilty for leaving work at 6 pm even after completing their responsibilities.

In Short

• Gurugram founder says Indian workplaces reward long hours over productivity
• Employees feel guilty leaving work at 6 pm
• Meetings scheduled to suit US and European offices

A Gurugram-based founder has shared her observations about Indian workplace culture, arguing that employees are often rewarded for exhaustion and long hours rather than productivity.

Nistha Tripathi, founder of 24NorthStar, shared a LinkedIn post describing how employees in India often feel guilty for leaving work at 6 pm even after completing their responsibilities.

“In India, you feel guilty for leaving work at 6 pm,” she said, adding that employees are often met with subtle remarks like “half day today?” despite long work hours or arriving early at the office.

Tripathi contrasted this with her experience working with European teams, where employees logged off at 5 pm “with no explanation” and without guilt, while work and deadlines still got completed smoothly.

She also wrote about the scheduling culture in Indian multinational companies, saying meetings are often fixed according to the convenience of US and European offices because “it is assumed that an Indian guy will take calls even at 10pm IST.”

Addressing professionals returning to India after working abroad, she said the biggest adjustment is often dealing with micromanagement and workplace judgement.

“Maybe it’s time we stop rewarding exhaustion and start respecting people who protect their energy,” Tripathi wrote, adding that being available 24/7 does not make employees valuable but instead makes them “taken for granted”.

Take a look at the post here:

Her post drew mixed reactions online, with many users relating to her observations, while others argued that comparing Indian and Western work cultures without considering economic and cultural differences was unfair.

“One culture is different. Only comparing half-hearted outcomes is not wise,” one user commented, arguing that Indian workplaces often have stronger social interactions.

Another user said India’s work culture reflects a developing economy still in its growth phase, adding that Western countries too experienced harsh working conditions during periods of industrial expansion.

Several users, however, agreed with Nistha Tripathi’s larger point that workplaces should reward productivity instead of long hours or performative presence.

- Ends