I worked with a German guy for a couple of years in NYC. Under no circumstances would he cross a street against the light, even if there wasn't a car in sight for miles.
Now, New Yorkers never observe pedestrian signals at the cross-walk, even in heavy traffic. I've been to London, Paris, Rome, Hong Kong and they don't either.
I think crossing against the light it as good a gauge of individualism vs. "hive mind" as one could ask for.
When I visited Hamburg many years ago I got strange looks when I crossed the middle of the street where there was no crosswalk to get to a bar or restaurant on the other side. The Germans of Hamburg were the same as your co-worker they’d wait at a crosswalk and even if no traffic would wait til the pedestrian signal changed before crossing even if it was 2:00 AM and no cars on the road besides a taxi here or there.
When in Germany and Austria, I was told, without question, if I crossed the street against the ped lights, I would be killed.
Diff’t decades, diff’t ages, of course.
The brainwashing is lifelong.