A Reddit post by an employee based in the Netherlands has triggered widespread discussion online after it highlighted a sharp cultural clash over working hours and expectations. The post, which has since gone viral, describes tensions between a Europe-based employee and a newly appointed manager located in the US.
According to the account, the employee works for the Dutch arm of a large American technology company and reports to a middle manager stationed in New York. While the initial interactions were cordial, friction soon emerged over working patterns. The employee claimed he was questioned for logging off at 5 pm, not replying to emails over the weekend, and declining late-night meetings scheduled to suit US time zones.
The manager reportedly viewed these boundaries as a lack of commitment and pushed for employees to put in extra hours to demonstrate dedication. The situation escalated when the employee was warned about potential formal action, including the possibility of being placed on a performance improvement plan.
In response, the employee pointed to Dutch labour practices, which strongly discourage after-hours work and cap weekly working time at 40 hours. He reportedly explained that extended workdays are often seen in the Netherlands as a sign of poor planning rather than high performance. The matter was then escalated to the company’s local HR team.
The post claims that the Dutch HR department intervened, rejected the threat of disciplinary action, and reinforced compliance with local employment laws. Following this intervention, the manager allegedly stopped contacting the employee outside regular working hours.
The story resonated with users across social media, many of whom contrasted American “always-on” work expectations with Europe’s stronger focus on work-life balance. The post has since become a broader talking point on how global companies navigate cultural and legal differences across regions.