Overview

• Akhilesh, an Indian engineer working in Paris, shared on X how European leave policies treat paid leave as a contractual right requiring only reasonable notice.
• He contrasted this with his experiences in India, where leave approvals often require managerial discretion and repeated follow-ups.
• The post went viral, generating widespread discussion on social media about differences in workplace practices between India and Europe.
• Critics described Indian managers as authoritarian, while others argued that younger Indian employees follow HR policies without seeking prior approvals.
• The debate also highlighted broader structural differences: France mandates a 35-hour workweek with overtime pay, while India lacks a statutory cap and often sees longer working hours without compensation.