European Employee Blasts US Work Culture in Viral Post: 'Dystopia'

Newsweek

13 hours ago

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A European employee has ignited a viral conversation after criticizing U.S. work culture in a Reddit post that resonated with thousands.
The post, shared by user u/Disastrous_Bench_763 in the subreddit r/antiwork," quickly amassed more than 24,000 upvotes and widespread attention.
"I seriously don't know how you guys do it. Watching U.S. work culture from Europe feels like watching a never-ending episode of Black Mirror, but everyone's been gaslit into thinking it's 'just how things are'," they wrote.
In a detailed critique, the Reddit user pointed to the lack of federally mandated paid vacation days in the U.S., contrasting it with Europe's legal guarantee of at least 20 to 25 paid days off annually—excluding public holidays. They noted that, in Europe, disappearing for most of August is expected, while Americans feel pressured for taking even a week off.
Stock image: An unhappy American worker waits on a train platform.
Stock image: An unhappy American worker waits on a train platform.
kieferpix/iStock / Getty Images Plus
The poster also expressed disbelief over the U.S. approach to health care, noting that losing employment often means losing access to health insurance.
Maternity and paternity leave were also scrutinized. The poster criticized the U.S. for forcing mothers back to work within weeks of giving birth, while Europe often offers months—sometimes up to a year—of paid leave for both parents.
"Hustle. Grind. 'If you're not working 60 hours a week, you don't want it bad enough.' No thanks." The poster cited France's laws against contacting employees after hours and condemned the American glorification of burnout.
Touching on job security, the user described at-will employment as "not freedom—that's instability," and concluded with a striking summary: "You've normalized corporate feudalism and called it 'the American dream.'"
Experts' Insight
Patrice Williams Lindo, CEO of Career Nomad, told Newsweek that U.S. work culture didn't accidentally turn dystopian—it was "built this way."
After decades leading organizational change at major firms like Accenture and Deloitte, Lindo now coaches professionals on reclaiming their power in the workplace.
She said American work culture is sustained by corporate lobbying, a myth of meritocracy, and a legal system that offers minimal worker protections. "Employer-tied health care ensures dependence. At-will employment ensures silence. And when hustle is marketed as identity, people fear opting out will cost them everything," Lindo added.
In response to whether Europeans are right to view U.S. labor norms as exploitative, Lindo was unequivocal: "Absolutely."
She added that, in most of the industrialized world, things such as rest, health care, and paid parental leave are seen as rights—not luxuries. "We've normalized exploitation so thoroughly that people thank their boss for letting them log off at 6 p.m. This isn't hustle—it's harm wrapped in a motivational quote."
As for why change is so difficult in the U.S., Lindo pointed to cultural values that prize grind culture, legal frameworks such as at-will employment, and economic inequality that leaves workers too burned out or fearful to resist.
Still, Lindo said she sees hope. She noted growing support for reforms like four-day workweek pilots, state-level paid leave, and a surge of interest from Gen Z and professionals recovering from layoffs. "The shift isn't just policy—it's psychological," Lindo said. "People are realizing they were never lazy—they were surviving a rigged system."
When asked how workers can advocate for better conditions without risking their livelihoods, Lindo added, "Visibility is the first act of resistance." She encouraged workers to document their achievements, build community, and approach advocacy as a strategy, not just a protest. "We don't need more gratitude for crumbs. We need systems that honor our brilliance without burning us alive."
Reddit Reacts
Many Reddit users echoed the original post's sentiments, sharing personal stories and reflections on the perceived dysfunction of U.S. labor systems.
One user recalled how admiration for the U.S. has faded over time: "I'm British and 52 years old—we grew up admiring the U.S. … My then girlfriend even investigated moving but now? I'd think twice about even visiting."
Another wrote that, while American wages are sometimes higher, they come with poor value: "I can get a pretty good life in Spain for less money … and I get a much better quality of life thrown in 'for free.'"
Some reflected on regrets. "I'm 55 and realizing I squandered my whole life as a creative working 'stable' jobs that provide insurance coverage … It's so depressing," said one.
Others were more direct: "100% correct. And we do not have universal health care, free college, or any other European style benefits."
One commenter, working for a global company, highlighted the disparity in benefits among international co-workers: "I encounter those 9 month maternity leaves, all the vacation time … the way their labor rules vary … all these benefits none of us stateside folks get."
The viral Reddit post and the chorus of agreement it sparked suggest a growing awareness—and exhaustion—with the current state of American labor.
From both inside and outside the system, the message is clear: while the U.S. remains a global economic force, many workers are wondering at what cost.
Newsweek reached out to u/Disastrous_Bench_763 for comment via Reddit. We could not verify the details of the case.
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