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Indian man in France shares ‘surprising’ office culture where employees head to gym during lunch hours
An Indian man in France shared how colleagues went to the gym during lunch hours.
An Indian man working in France has sparked conversation online after sharing a glimpse of office culture that, he says, might surprise many back home.
(Also read: ₹57,000 in India vs ₹2.5 lakh in France: Internet compares the true cost of living worldwide)
In a video posted on Instagram, the man, identified as Rohit, talks about how employees in France often use their lunch breaks to head to the gym, even on busy workdays.
Explaining the difference, he says, “Let me tell you one of the office culture things in France that may shock people in India. Many people here go to the gym during lunch hours. After meetings, they head straight for a workout. In India, if you get up at 12 and say you are going to the gym, people might think you are on your notice period. It is simple. People here prioritise health.”
Cleanliness and discipline stand out
In the same video, Rohit also highlights another aspect that stood out to him, the hygiene standards maintained in French gyms. According to him, people are mindful of shared spaces and make it a habit to clean equipment after use.
In the caption of his post, he elaborated on this experience, writing that gym culture in France is deeply integrated into daily routines. He noted that people consistently wipe down equipment so the next person can use it comfortably. Drawing a comparison with India, he added that while he has visited several gyms back home, such consistent cleaning practices were not always common, although he acknowledged that things may be improving.
Watch the clip here:
Social media reactions pour in
The video has attracted several reactions online, with users sharing their own experiences and perspectives on workplace fitness culture.
(Also read: Street food to hospitality: Foreign woman lists 5 things India does better than France)
One user wrote, “I do the same, just in India. Have been lucky.” Another commented, “My Indian office had a gym, but using it during work hours was unthinkable.” A third user shared, “I was also shocked the first time when I saw my supervisor go for a run before lunch.”
Others pointed out that similar practices exist beyond France. “Same in Ireland,” one person noted, while another added, “Wow, I really like this kind of office culture.”
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)
