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‘Same role, but 3-4x more pay’: Indian employee compares work culture with US colleagues

An Indian employee compared his workload and pay with US colleagues and highlighted major differences in work culture.

Published on: Aug 12, 2026, 16:45:58 IST
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An employee in India has sparked a discussion online after comparing his workload, pay and work-from-office requirements with those of his US-based colleagues holding the same position. In a Reddit post, the man claimed that although their roles are identical, the working conditions and expectations are significantly different depending on geography.

An employee said his US counterparts handled fewer projects, earned more and enjoyed greater flexibility than his India team. (Representational image/Gemini AI generated)
An employee said his US counterparts handled fewer projects, earned more and enjoyed greater flexibility than his India team. (Representational image/Gemini AI generated)

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‘Same position, same role’

Explaining the contrast, the employee wrote, "I work with my US counterparts, same position, same role, but the reality on the ground is so different from what a normal eye sees. US folks get to have two projects max. When they get one more, they have the confidence to raise it with their management/project owners, saying that they don't have the bandwidth to take on anything extra. People support them and respect their boundaries and WLB. On top of it, they get paid 3x-4x what I earn in India, all while working remotely. There is no compulsion to come to the office."

"Now, in India, my team has a norm of three to four projects at the very minimum. Anyone having two is looked upon as if he/she has committed some sort of a crime. Some even have six projects running, and they have to manage all of them. I guess we have stopped treating labourers as humans. Why isn't there equality across the workforce? Why do people treat employees differently based on geographical regions?" he wrote.

The employee also claimed that he is required to work from the office at least three times a week and is questioned by his manager if he fails to show up.

"I have to be in the office 3x a week at minimum. If I don't show up, I am asked by my manager where I was. When I share this with my US teammates, they hate it and ask to step in, but I know nothing is going to change. We are really labourers working here just to earn our bread and butter," he added.

The Reddit post was shared with the title, "Why there is difference between US and India employees?"

Check out the post here:

Internet reacts to employee’s comparison

The post drew reactions from users who weighed in on differences in pay, workload and work-life balance between employees working in different regions.

(Also read: ₹2 crore India offer, chooses lower-paying US job: ‘He’s okay with the visa pressure'">Employee rejects 2 crore India offer, chooses lower-paying US job: ‘He’s okay with the visa pressure')

One user wrote, “Same role, completely different treatment.” Another said, “This pay gap is actually shocking.” A third commented, “Work-life balance shouldn’t depend on geography.” Echoing a similar sentiment, another user wrote, “Employee boundaries deserve equal respect everywhere.”

(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 AUTHOR
Mahipal Singh Chouhan

Mahipal Singh Chouhan is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital, with nearly five years of experience in digital journalism and content production. He primarily covers offbeat, trending and human-interest stories, with a focus on emerging social media trends, online conversations and real-world incidents that capture public attention. At Hindustan Times, Mahipal works on identifying and developing fast-moving digital stories, adding context and journalistic perspective to viral moments while maintaining accuracy, clarity and readability for online audiences. Before joining Hindustan Times Digital, he was associated with DNA India, where he gained experience in newsroom workflows and digital storytelling. He holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi. Beyond journalism, he has a keen interest in history and sports and enjoys expanding his general knowledge.

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