Modhura Roy, a consulting principal now working in the UK, has shared how moving abroad changed the way she sees work and balance in the tech industry. After spending over seven years in India, she noticed
a big difference in how companies operate in the two countries. In India, long hours, constant availability and high performance pressure are common, while in the UK, companies focus more on setting limits and supporting employee well being.
The 38-year-old explained that in Britain, work is just one part of life, where employees are encouraged to take breaks, spend time with family and pay attention to their fitness. She said this has helped her perform better at her job and manage her personal life as a mother of an 8 year old. She moved to London in March 2020 with her husband and daughter, after working in cities like Kolkata and Pune.
Big Differences Between India And UK Work Culture
Speaking with Money Control, Modhura Roy said, “In the UK, work is considered as part of one’s life, not to consume every waking hour. There is a much bigger focus on health, fitness, taking vacations and family time. With seniors in London, the focus was more on the quality of work, my personal upskilling journey and the value being brought to the client. With managers in India, the focus has more often been on revenue generation and an aggressive sales driven culture.”
Roy remembered that her work in India involved supporting clients in the UK and US, which often meant very long workdays and staying available on weekends. It was normal for employees to log in from home late at night whenever overseas teams needed help. At one point, she was even asked to cancel a planned trip to Kolkata, which she had scheduled months earlier, because a new project was starting. She had to go through several people and raise the issue multiple times just to make sure she can take her leave.
Challenges Of Personal Life And Career In India
According to Modhura Roy, workplaces in India are built around “hyper productivity. The country is focused on squeezing the maximum out of every employee, not really bothering about mental well-being and health.” In contrast, the work in the UK “is considered part of life, not something that consumes every waking hour. In the UK, over the last five years, I’ve never been asked to work weekends or justify leave. In fact, time off is actively encouraged. It’s a sea change compared to what I experienced in India.”
Roy noticed that after her daughter was born, the work schedule in Pune affected her mental and physical health. The unpredictable hours made it hard to balance personal life and work, so she decided to change teams and rethink how to manage her career in a better way. In London, she faced a different challenge, there was no extra help from family and childcare was expensive.
