Nistha Tripathi, the co-founder of education consulting firm 24NorthStar based in Gurgaon, India, recently shared her thoughts on the long work hours prevalent in Indian workplaces through a LinkedIn post. She expressed that employees often feel guilty for leaving work at a reasonable hour, even after fulfilling their tasks, and are met with remarks like 'half day today?' if they log off around 6 PM. Tripathi contrasted this experience with her time working in Europe, where employees routinely log off by 5 PM without guilt, yet still meet deadlines and complete their work. She pointed out that Indian multinational corporations (MNCs) often schedule meetings to accommodate Western time zones, expecting Indian employees to work late into the night. Tripathi's post resonated with many professionals, sparking a discussion about the normalization of presenteeism in India, where commitment is often measured by visibility rather than productivity. While many supported her views, some cautioned against blindly adopting Western work practices without considering cultural differences. The dialogue underscores the need for a shift in how work hours and productivity are perceived in India, advocating for a focus on outcomes rather than mere presence.