Russian professional Luliia Aslamova, who has been working in Bangalore for the past 12 years since 2013, recently went viral for sharing her reflections on India's work culture via her social handle on Instagram. Her observation states that work culture here is very different from that abroad, as she posted on Instagram.
Caring yet intense work environment
1. Aslamova noted that colleagues often show care by checking if she had breakfast, tea, coffee, or lunch, calling it a “super sweet and welcoming restart.”
2. She also observed the widespread practice of staying late until managers leave and handling professional tasks late at night
3. The above is further accentuated by calls at 11 pm or emails sent at midnight.
Commuting, festivals, and teamwork
4. Long commutes also stood out; many employees spend up to two hours traveling one way.
5. She highlighted how colleagues avoid saying a direct ‘no’.
6. Added to the above is how festivals are celebrated collectively, with pujas and team events strengthening bonds.
Work pressure and financial habits
7. Aslamova remarked on India’s competitive work culture.
8. Adding to the above, she said, in India, young professionals often balance extended familial responsibilities and sometimes prioritize work over personal life.
9. She was impressed by employees’ financial prudence, noting that many start saving and investing from their very first salary.
Professional relationships as family
10. Based on her 12-year journey in India's work culture, she commented with much conviction that colleagues here, over time, become like family, a relationship that goes beyond simple professional ties to long-lasting friendships. “With years of working together, team members truly turn into friends for a lifetime. I really got my new family through my journey in India,” she wrote.
Luliia, who calls herself “India’s bahu” on Instagram, has over 24,100 followers. Her post has brought to the fore discussions on India’s office culture, which is already hardworking yet has a very high-pressure office culture, where it is usually seen that ambition, teamwork, and social bonds define professional life.