An Indian tech professional working in Sweden has caught the internet’s attention after sharing a glimpse of her workplace culture. Taking to Instagram, the woman named Swati posted a video showing her office completely empty at 4.30 pm, offering a striking contrast to typical long working hours often seen in India.
In the clip, she walks through a quiet office space with no colleagues around, underlining how early the workday winds down in many European countries.
(Also read: IIT graduate in Tokyo compares Japan vs India work culture: 'I don't have to respond after work hours')
‘It’s just 4.30 and no one is around’
While voiceovering the video, she explains how the focus in Sweden is not on hours spent at the desk but on the quality of work delivered. She is heard saying, “It's just 4:30 and see my office, no one is around. In Europe, it's all about work-life balance. You don't need to maintain office hours, just the thing that matters is the quality of work and how you deliver it. That's it. No need to work on weekends, no need to sit after 5. And just enjoy your time with your family, with your friends, or whatever hobbies you like to pursue.”
The text overlaid on the video reads, “Its just 4:30 pm and whole office is vacant”.
{{/usCountry}}The text overlaid on the video reads, “Its just 4:30 pm and whole office is vacant”.
{{/usCountry}}She further emphasised the lifestyle in her caption, writing, “Sweden is all about flexible working hours , work life balance, time for yourself, your hobbies, your family or whatever you like.”
Watch the clip here:
Social media reacts
The video has received several reactions, with many users comparing it to work culture in India. While some praised the approach, others expressed a sense of longing for similar conditions.
Reacting to the clip, one user commented, “This is so cool”, while another wrote, “In India its opposite”. A third user shared their aspiration, saying, “I also want this type of work culture in my office”, and another added, “This is so amazing”.
(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.)