A professional of Indian origin working in Paris recently sparked a storm on social media with a widely circulated Instagram video in which he voiced his views on a "toxic work culture among Indians abroad," which apparently set off a buzz among social media users, encouraging them to discuss office politics and workplace behavior.
In the video, a man claims that some of his Indian colleagues overly focus on observing and highlighting small things rather than being productive. He says small things, such as a coworker being late by a few minutes, are overemphasized and escalated to managers.
Rivalry Among Desi Colleagues
As a Paris veteran, this professional stated, "I feel very lucky to be the only Indian in this project. Being in a group of Indians can shield you from all sorts of conflict, gossip, and infighting," which he believes accompanies a team of Indian professionals working on a project.
He alleged that complaining, gossiping, and office politics are part of office life among some Indians abroad. "If one Indian arrives before 9 am, he will show off. But if another Indian arrives five minutes late, it will be presented as if a crime has been committed," he added, with such performances continuing despite flexible work hours among local managers.
The man went on to add that European workmates spend most of their time in work, but Indians prefer to indulge in politics in their workplace, which brings a negative impact to work environments due to poor team morale.
Public Reactions Erupt Online
The video soon went viral, with people sharing their views based on their own experiences in workplaces in America, Europe, and other parts of the world. Some people commented on the video, saying they have observed Indian-dominated companies abroad follow dynamics observed in Indian work culture, despite being more relaxed.
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Some of them took it further by saying they deliberately avoid working under Indian managers because of negative experiences in the past, which can include everything from excessive micro-managing to wage disputes. Some people advised against making a sweeping judgment because behavior at work differs greatly from organization to organization and generation to generation.
The debate has also highlighted differences in both Indian and European work environments. Although views have remained divided, this Paris-based professional’s statements have sparked a renewed debate on how deeply embedded habits, formed in education systems and organisational structures, follow each employee when they relocate internationally.