For many Indian IT professionals, the idea of working for a foreign company comes with expectations of better work-life balance, greater flexibility and a less stressful environment. But one techie’s experience has sparked a fresh debate about how differently workplaces can function across countries.
Diwakar Singh, a tech professional working remotely for a UK-based company, recently shared a video comparing his current work culture with his previous experience at Indian firms. His biggest surprise? Sometimes, there is simply no task waiting for him.
Singh said he completed and released a software project on Friday. When he logged into work on Monday, however, he found himself with nothing new to do. Instead of receiving another assignment immediately, he said he had to remind his manager that he was available.
The unusual experience quickly caught attention online. While some Indian professionals found it hard to imagine such a situation, others described the UK-style work environment as a dream.
‘If I Don’t Message Him, I May Get No Task For Days’
Singh explained his experience in a video shared on Instagram. According to him, finishing a project does not necessarily mean another task is immediately pushed into his queue.
“It’s Monday morning, and right now I don’t have any tasks to work on. Last Friday, I released a software, and after that, my manager doesn’t even remember if I have any pending tasks. If I don’t message him and tell him to assign me a task, he probably won’t assign me any task for two to three days,” Singh said in the video.
For someone accustomed to the fast-paced Indian IT environment, the situation may sound surprising. Singh said that his previous workplaces followed a very different approach. He described a system where employees often had several assignments lined up even before they had completed their existing work.
“When I used to work for Indian companies, an old task wouldn’t even be complete and four to five tasks would already be waiting in the pending queue. So that’s the difference, guys, between working in a UK-based company and an Indian-based company,” he added.
The contrast highlights a difference in management styles that many professionals may have experienced in their own careers.
From Constant Follow-Ups To Greater Independence
Singh also compared the role of managers in his previous Indian workplaces with his current UK-based company. According to him, his earlier managers frequently asked employees for updates and closely monitored their work. His present workplace, he claimed, gives employees considerably more freedom.
“There, the manager keeps yelling at you and takes updates every single moment. Here, there’s nothing like that. You just do your work and do whatever else, it doesn’t make any difference. Thank you, guys!” he said
The comment has resonated with people who have experienced both highly structured workplaces and environments where employees are expected to manage their own schedules. In some companies, constant updates are considered a way of maintaining productivity and ensuring deadlines are met. In others, employees are given greater autonomy as long as their assigned work is completed properly. Singh’s experience appears to fall firmly into the second category.
‘Different Work Culture, Different Problems’
The techie also gave his followers a humorous account of what happened after he finished his Friday assignment. Sharing the video, Singh wrote, “Finished my task on Friday. Monday came. Opened my laptop. Checked Salesforce. Checked email. Checked Salesforce again. No new tasks.”
He added that unless he reminded his manager about his availability, he could end up “sitting peacefully for the next couple of days”.
That situation may sound relaxing to some employees. But it can also create uncertainty for people who are used to having a clearly defined workload throughout the day. Singh reflected on his previous experience in Indian companies and wrote, “Back when I worked for Indian companies, finishing one task basically meant getting handed three more.”
His comments effectively summed up the difference he experienced. One workplace appeared to prioritise a continuous flow of assignments. The other allowed employees to finish their work before worrying about what came next.
Why The Comparison Is Getting Attention
The video struck a chord because work culture is a subject that frequently divides Indian professionals. Indian corporate workplaces, particularly in the technology sector, are often associated with demanding schedules, multiple deadlines and frequent status meetings. However, this does not mean every Indian company operates in the same way.
Similarly, working for a UK-based company does not automatically mean an employee will have fewer responsibilities or a relaxed schedule. Work culture can vary considerably depending on the company, manager, industry, role and team. What Singh’s story does show is how different management expectations can feel to an employee moving from one work environment to another.
For Singh, the biggest difference appears to be the level of autonomy. Instead of constantly being asked for progress updates, he said he is trusted to complete his work without continuous supervision.
Internet Reacts To The Viral Experience
The post attracted a range of reactions from social media users. One person summed up the difference in just three words: “Indian work culture could never.”
Another user called Singh’s experience “a dream job”. A third person joked, “In India, one task ends and five begin.”
Someone else offered a broader view of the comparison, writing, “Different countries, completely different work cultures.”
The reactions show that Singh’s experience has struck a familiar nerve among Indian professionals. Many users recognised the description of having multiple tasks waiting even before the current assignment is finished. At the same time, the discussion also raises a bigger question about productivity. Is an employee more productive when there is always another task waiting, or does giving people breathing room help them work better? There is no single answer.
Is A Lighter Workload Always Better?
Having no immediate task may sound like the perfect situation. But a quieter workday can have both advantages and disadvantages. Greater independence can give employees time to learn new skills, explore ideas or simply avoid unnecessary pressure. It can also create a healthier separation between work and personal life.
However, employees may also worry about whether they are contributing enough when their workload is not clearly defined. For managers, the challenge is finding the right balance. Too much supervision can make employees feel pressured. Too little communication can leave them uncertain about priorities. Singh’s experience suggests that workplace culture is not simply about how much work employees receive. It is also about how managers communicate, how responsibilities are assigned and how much trust employees are given.
Conclusion
Diwakar Singh’s comparison between his UK-based job and previous experience at Indian companies has sparked a conversation about the very different ways workplaces can operate. His biggest surprise is not necessarily the amount of work he has. It is the fact that his manager does not constantly chase him for updates or immediately assign another task after he finishes one.
For Indian professionals accustomed to seeing several assignments lined up at once, that can certainly feel unusual. But the viral discussion also serves as a reminder that there is no universal definition of a good work culture. Some employees prefer a fast-paced environment with constant challenges. Others value autonomy, flexibility and the freedom to manage their own time. Ultimately, the right workplace may be the one where employees can do their best work without feeling either constantly overwhelmed or completely disconnected from their responsibilities.
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