Ex-Amazon Executive Viral Post Highlights Indian Work Culture, Calls for Balance and Sustainability

Former Amazon executive Adam Broda's viral LinkedIn post highlights Indian employees' long hours and enthusiasm, sparking debates on workplace culture, employee well-being, and global work dynamics.

Ex-Amazon Executive Viral Post Highlights Indian Work Culture, Calls for Balance and Sustainability

Source : LinkedIn/AdamBroda

A recent LinkedIn post by Adam Broda, a former Amazon executive, has sparked widespread discussions on workplace culture in India. The post, which recounts Broda’s experiences working alongside Indian colleagues, has gone viral, drawing hundreds of likes and igniting debates across social media platforms, including Reddit. Broda’s reflection highlights the intense work schedules of employees in global organisations, particularly in India. Recalling his tenure at Amazon, Broda noted that while he worked 60-hour weeks, his Indian colleagues in the technical team based in Bangalore consistently put in even longer hours.

“They’d be online when I’d log in (7 am), attend staff meetings at 10 am, and even VP-level reviews in the afternoon,” Broda wrote. He also mentioned instances of his Indian colleagues joining calls at odd hours, such as 3 am Bangalore time. In his post, Broda expressed amazement at their dedication and attributed this work ethic to the influence of workplace culture. He shared:

“At Amazon, I worked hard; some weeks I’d work 60+ hours – but never as many as our team members in India. Much of our org’s technical organization (dev team) was based out of Bangalore. They’d be online when I’d log in (7 am), they’d be online for staff meetings (10 am), and they’d frequently call into VP-level reviews in the afternoon (4 pm). And here’s the crazy thing… Most of them were happy to do it. As if 60+ hours was totally normal.”

The Role of Workplace Culture

Broda emphasised the role of organisational culture in fostering employee motivation and productivity. He stated, “This is why ‘culture’ will always ‘eat strategy for breakfast.’ Employees that are energised and excited to do the work, and given the tools and trust they need to be successful, will almost always outperform those that don’t want to be there.”

A Call for Balance

While praising the dedication of his Indian colleagues, Broda also urged employers to ensure fair workloads. He advised managers to regularly check in with employees working across different time zones and address any issues arising from demanding schedules.

Public Reaction

One of the users said, “They wanted to be there or they thought you wanted to hear that and that’s why they said it? You have to look at financial condition, background of those people, age/family and the context of work culture in India to fully understand it.” 

A second user commented, “This is a great reminder to always check in with your international employees. Also a reminder that 60+ hours isn’t sustainable. Even if your team members are willing to do it.”

“The drive and passion employees bring to the table can be a game-changer for a company’s success. However, it's important to balance the enthusiasm for hard work with sustainable practices to avoid burnout, especially across time zones,” said a third one.