Amazon’s ex-employee’s ‘appreciation post’ for Indian employees: Why ‘culture’ will always ‘eat strategy for breakfast’ – Times of India

A former Amazon employee has praised work culture in India with a recent LinkedIn post highlighting the grueling schedules faced by employees in global organizations. Reflecting on his experiences with colleagues in India, Adam Broda reflected on his time at Amazon, where he worked 60-hour weeks. However, he observed that his Indian colleagues, especially the technical team in Bangalore, often worked even longer hours.
“They’d already be online when I logged in at 7 am, attend staff meetings at 10 am, and participate in VP-level reviews later in the afternoon,” Broda wrote. He expressed admiration for their dedication and enthusiasm, noting that they were willing to work even at odd hours, such as 3 am Bangalore time.
The post quickly went viral, garnering hundreds of likes and fueling discussions across platforms, including Reddit.

Here’s what ex-Amazon employee wrote on LinkedIn

At Amazon I worked hard; some weeks I’d work 60+ hrs – 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 login (7am)
They’d be online for Staff meetings (10am)
They’d frequently call into VP-level reviews in the afternoon (4pm).
And here’s the crazy thing…
Most of them were happy to do it.
As if 60+ hrs was totally normal.
I witnessed multiple leaders asking why they were on calls at 3am Bangalore time??
The explanation would always be the same…
“We want to be here”
And they weren’t lying.
This is why “culture” will always “eat strategy for breakfast”
Employees that are energized 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.
– – –
PS – Check in on your employees working in different countries.
Frequently ask about hours worked, and how you can better accommodate their needs across the time zone differences.
Even if they want to work more hours, that doesn’t always mean they should.

How social media reacted

Commenting on the post, one user wrote “Adam Broda, your team’s dedication is truly inspiring! We must ensure this enthusiasm aligns with sustainable work-life balance.”
“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,” said another user. “Just because someone wants to work extra hours doesn’t mean it’s sustainable. Great leaders help set boundaries for long-term success,” said a third.