‘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.
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.

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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."
He then described what he said was the situation for employees on his India-based team.
"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: 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 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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