As debates around work-life balance, mental health, and return-to-office mandates heat up in the UK, a new Crosscurrents Work Culture report from Zety reveals a surprising source of concern: the spread of U.S. corporate culture.
U.S. work culture is often characterised by longer hours, less vacation time, and a stronger emphasis on individual achievement and productivity, while European work culture generally prioritises work-life balance, with shorter work hours, more vacation time, and stronger worker protections.
Furthermore, European countries tend to have mandated vacation time and a greater focus on leisure, whereas U.S. citizens may feel pressure to work longer hours, especially if their managers also do so, and take less time off.
According to a survey of 1,000 workers across the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, 83% of European employees say they are worried that U.S. workplace norms—popularised by figures like Elon Musk—are negatively influencing their own professional environments.
There are several concerns that make up this tendency. The survey reveals that 78% fear that U.S. workplace policies could threaten strong European labour laws and mental health protections.
European labour laws generally provide stronger protections for workers than those in the US, particularly concerning job security, working hours, and paid leave. US laws tend to favour employer flexibility, while European laws often prioritize worker rights and job security.
This concern extends to not only maintaining current provisions, but also with making employment law stronger in favour of workers. Here, 68% said they support stronger labour protections to guard against the influence of American-style workplace mandates like longer hours and productivity surveillance.
There is also the relative ease for dismissing someone. In the US, most employment relationships are “at-will,” meaning either the employer or employee can terminate the relationship at any time, with or without cause, as long as it is not discriminatory.
In contrast, European countries generally have laws that make it more difficult for employers to terminate employees without a valid reason and often require advance notice and severance pay.
If employment practices were to change, a sizable proportion of employees suggest they will exit the workplace. The poll finds that 34% say they would look for a new job immediately if their company introduced U.S.-style policies like forced return to office, weekly reporting, or fewer holidays.
Workers across Europe are not only resisting hustle culture—they’re sounding the alarm about a shift in workplace values. With U.S. business practices spreading across industries, there is growing tension between corporate demands and long-held labour rights.
