When I working in NL (small embedded tech company) all my colleagues were doing 32 hrs. My friend in different company did the same. Some companies do have a 40 hr culture, but it's quite normal to do 32 hrs in my experience.

I Live in Vienna now, most of my colleagues do 32 hrs. Boss doesn't love it, but it's better than losing people.

Agree on this, and not just in tech.

I work for a large financial co in NL (~50k employees) and 36-hour contracts are the standard for all full-time employees. 32 is considered part-time for us.

Regardless, most people certainly work 4 days a week here. Of all my friends and contacts, I think I know of only a handful working 5 days a week.

That is strange. I am working in the tech sector and it is normal and accepted everywhere I work. Maybe not the norm, at some companies most people work 40 hours - but its not like 32 is unacceptable.

Maybe its different for people in leadership positions, or embedded development or some other domain I am not so familiar with?

I’d interpret their comment as 32 hour weeks being normal and acceptable, whether or not it is most common.