Akhilesh’s viral post about the cultural shock of applying for leave in France versus India has struck a deep chord because it reflects far more than just workplace logistics—it exposes the philosophical divide in how labour is valued and how power is distributed in professional relationships.
In India, many employees are conditioned from a young age to seek permission for holidays, for speaking out, even for small decisions. This carries into the workplace, where leave often feels like a privilege granted by the manager rather than a contractual right. Akhilesh’s revelation—that in France, leave is simply informed, not begged for—felt liberating to many and unsettling to others.
The contrasting reactions to his post underline how entrenched hierarchies remain in Indian corporate culture. One user even called India a “country of slaves,” while others pointed out that the newer generation, especially in startups or global companies, is beginning to push back, treating workplace rights more assertively.
Structurally, the difference is also stark:
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France guarantees a 35-hour workweek, with mandatory paid leave and strong labour unions.
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India lacks a legally enforced cap on work hours for many sectors, and paid time off is still treated variably across industries, often depending on the manager’s discretion or team dynamics.
What Akhilesh’s post has really done is spark a much-needed conversation about employee rights, mental health, and the need to redefine professional boundaries in India. While not all Indian workplaces follow the rigid patterns he described, enough do to make this conversation long overdue.
