Indian man in Norway expected praise for working more, got a reality check instead

An Indian professional who thought he was impressing his boss by working weekends and cancelling holidays was stunned when he was instead called out for it. His experience in Norway has now sparked a conversation about work-life balance and the culture of overwork.

Vinod, who moved to Norway 15 years ago, recently shared how a cultural clash at work forced him to rethink everything he knew about dedication and success.

When he first arrived in Norway, he carried with him the habits he had developed over years of working in India. Staying late at the office, cancelling personal plans for work and remaining constantly available felt normal. To him, these were signs of commitment and professionalism.

So when he was summoned to his manager's office one day, he assumed he was about to be praised.

Instead, the conversation took an unexpected turn.

His manager had noticed that Vinod had responded to emails on a Saturday and had cancelled a planned holiday to finish a project. Far from being impressed, the boss was concerned. According to Vinod, the manager told him that taking leave was not a luxury but a necessity. By working through holidays, he was setting an unhealthy example for younger colleagues and reinforcing the idea that personal time was expendable.

The message left him stunned.

What he had long considered dedication was being viewed as a potential problem. The manager reportedly stressed that rest, family time and holidays were essential parts of a sustainable career and should not be sacrificed in the name of productivity.

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The experience became a turning point. It prompted Vinod to reflect on the culture of constant hustle that many professionals grow up with and the hidden costs that often accompany it.

His post struck a chord online, with many users praising the Norwegian approach to employee wellbeing. Others pointed out that while awareness around burnout is growing, long working hours and expectations of constant availability remain common in many workplaces.

At a time when conversations around mental health and work-life balance are becoming increasingly urgent, Vinod's story serves as a reminder that sometimes the biggest career lesson is learning when to step away from work, not work harder.