Indian woman in Europe shows empty office at 5:15 pm, compares work culture with India
An Indian woman in Italy showed her empty office at 5.15 pm and compared Europe’s work culture with India.
An Indian woman living in Italy has sparked a conversation online after sharing a glimpse of her office at 5.15 pm. In the video, she showed how the workplace had already become empty by early evening, drawing a comparison with office culture in India.

(Also read: Indian woman in Amsterdam shows empty office at 5 pm, internet says 'Normalise this everywhere')
The woman, identified as Beena, shared the clip on her Instagram account @chai_and_croissant_europe. The video has received limited reactions, but it has caught the attention of social media users who related to the difference in work life balance between Europe and India.
‘Everyone has already left for home’
In the clip, Beena is heard saying, “Right now, it is a quarter past five here in the evening, 5:15. And right now, the entire office has become empty. And right now in India, I think everyone must be working, and here, everyone has already left for their homes. So, this is the difference, brother, of working in Europe. This is the benefit here, that you just leave for your home on time.”
The clip was shared with the caption, “Worklife in Europe.”
The video shows a quiet and almost empty office space, with Beena pointing out how employees had wrapped up their workday and left on time.
Watch the clip here:
Her observation struck a chord with many Indians who often discuss long working hours, late evening calls and the pressure to remain available beyond office hours.
Social media reacts
Reacting to the video, one user wrote, “This is so impressive.” Another user said, “I wish it were the same in my office too.” A third user also shared a similar thought and wrote, “I wish I could leave work on time like this in my office too.”
(Also read: Indian techie shows empty office in Sweden at 4:30 pm, says quality of work matters more than hours)
Another user offered a different perspective and commented, “They outsource most of their projects to Indian teams, which is why Indian service based companies make their employees work longer hours. It is as simple as that. European countries have also outsourced much of their manufacturing to China and Vietnam. If the EU were handling everything on its own, they would make people work extremely hard too.”
HT.com has reached out to the user for her comments, and the copy will be updated once her response is received.
(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.)
ABOUT THE AUTHORMahipal Singh ChouhanMahipal Singh Chouhan is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital, with nearly five years of experience in digital journalism and content production. His work primarily focuses on offbeat and trending stories that reflect everyday experiences and evolving conversations on the internet. He has consistently worked on transforming viral content and human interest stories into structured news pieces that engage readers while maintaining editorial clarity. At Hindustan Times, Mahipal contributes to identifying and developing stories emerging from social media trends, online communities, and real-world incidents that capture public attention. His approach involves adding context and journalistic perspective to fast-moving digital narratives, helping present viral moments in a clear and reader-friendly format suited for digital audiences. Before joining Hindustan Times Digital, he was associated with DNA India, where he gained experience in newsroom workflows and digital storytelling practices. Mahipal holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi. He is particularly interested in tracking emerging trends and understanding how online conversations evolve into broader public discussions. His work reflects a focus on accuracy, readability, and relevance in the rapidly changing digital news environment. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Mahipal takes an interest in history and sports and regularly works on improving his general knowledge, which complements his curiosity as a media professional.Read More

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