15 years ago, I moved to Norway 🇳🇴... carrying my Indian work ethic - weekend work, skipped lunches, late evenings, and pushing myself even when I was not well.
Then one day, during my early days in Norway, my boss called me in. I thought I was going to be praised.
You replied to my email on Saturday. And you cancelled your vacation to deliver a project without telling me. I know you meant well, but that is not okay.
Vacation is mandatory. You never skip it. Your juniors are watching you. If they see this, they will think this is what dedication means.
I got scolded… for working too much.
I sat there confused. In India, this might have earned me a “highly dedicated” remark. Here, it was a problem.
That day broke something in me.
It made me see the hustle, the anxiety, and the need to keep grinding all the time - and for the first time, I broke in tears for everything it had quietly cost me.
Your thoughts - how are bosses and corporate culture today for you