Toxic work culture isn’t just a local woe; it’s a global plague, but it has found an exceptionally cosy home in India, thanks to lax regulations and cutthroat competition for talent. For the past decade, the average IT employee’s paycheck has been stagnant at around 3.5 lakhs, while the cost of living has been steadily galloping ahead at 5.5% every year.
While Nifty IT has been on a wild ride, boasting over 250% returns in the last ten years, your average Sanjay in the industry hasn’t seen a dime of that windfall. And attrition rates? They’re plummeting to an all-time low.
Enter the superstars of the corporate world, like Narayan Murthy, singing the tune of “work till you drop” to line their pockets with employees slaving away 70-plus hours a week.
Behind the scenes, toxic work environments are sucking the life out of employees, leaving them disheartened and sometimes even sending them packing.
So, let’s shake things up and dive into five real-life stories where Indians spill the tea on their encounters with toxic work culture. Trust me; it’s a rollercoaster ride you won’t want to miss.
Daily target not achieved – as was busy writing the goodbye mail
On Reddit, an employee’s impassioned email to her managers has shed light on the toxic environment within the workplace. The email, with the subject line “Daily target not achieved – as was busy writing the goodbye mail,” begins with a seemingly polite greeting before quickly transitioning into a tone of frustration.
The employee expresses disappointment at the managers’ absence on the last day and voices her grievances regarding their leadership style. She describes her experience as akin to “going through 3rd class torture”. She denounces the work environment as reminiscent of “Hitler’s RACE.”
Detailing specific instances of mistreatment, the employee recounts being consistently asked to “stay back after every team huddle” and subjected to verbal abuse, emails, and tags. She reveals that during team huddles, individuals on notice periods, including herself, were addressed disparagingly, subjected to rude and arrogant behaviour, and spoken to in an unprofessional and unethical manner.
Furthermore, the email highlights the alleged mistreatment of female employees, with claims of shouting and yelling directed at them. The employee demands better communication and treatment of females in the workplace, condemning the environment as “unhealthy/toxic/sick.” She asserts that such behaviour is not isolated and claims to have witnessed the similar treatment of female colleagues.
Addressing accusations of provocation and influence, the employee vehemently rebuts them, stating, “If I would have been a good influencer/have influenced someone or PROVOKING people on the floor, then I WOULD HAVE MADE SURE that you receive more resignations on your face.”
Despite the litany of grievances, the email does express gratitude towards supportive colleagues. The managers should learn from their examples of kindness and support. Ultimately, the employee concludes by asserting her self-respect and refusal to endure further humiliation and mental strain at the workplace, stating, “I don’t like sitting at the table where respect is not served.”
CEO calls her after work hours and on weekends to discuss “non-work-related matters”
In a post shared on Reddit, an individual describes the distressing situation faced by his girlfriend at her workplace in an IT company located in one of India’s major IT hubs. With approximately two years of experience in Quality Assurance and Design, she finds herself a victim of harassment perpetrated by the company’s CEO. The boyfriend expresses profound concern for their girlfriend’s well-being, stating that she has reached a point of depression and has even contemplated suicide.
According to the post, the CEO engages in inappropriate behaviour, such as calling her after working hours and on weekends, discussing non-work-related matters, and frequently visiting her desk for conversation. When the girlfriend fails to answer his calls, he resorts to taunting her and using harsh language, justifying his actions as work-related. The CEO is also accused of touching her inappropriately on multiple occasions under the guise of friendly interaction. Moreover, he allegedly monitors her activities by enquiring with her colleagues, exploiting the absence of a harassment policy in the company to wield unchecked authority.
The writer emphasizes that the incidents mentioned are only those shared by his girlfriend, hinting at the possibility of further undisclosed misconduct. They describe how the girlfriend is constantly bombarded with messages from the CEO on weekends, causing her distress even during her time off. If she ignores the messages, he resorts to calling her, fabricating urgent work matters and subjecting her to irrelevant questioning and reprimand. The writer observes their girlfriend’s emotional turmoil whenever she receives communication from the CEO.
Despite her desire to leave the job, the girlfriend struggles to secure interview opportunities in the current job market. She is willing to accept a lower salary but faces limited job prospects with significantly reduced pay. Hailing from a lower-middle-class background with financial obligations, she finds herself trapped between enduring the harassment and risking her financial stability.
Due to job-related stress, my blood pressure is higher than average for my age, my sleep cycle is completely disrupted, and I have been experiencing significant hair loss
Enduring a challenging situation at a startup for over a year has taken a devastating toll on a Redditor’s life. Despite working for below-industry-standard salaries, they have persisted in hopes of growth but have reached a breaking point. Reporting directly to the founder, who treats employees like slaves, the Redditor has faced work on Saturdays despite assurances of time off. Despite recognition from everyone else, promises of a salary raise made during the interview still need to be fulfilled.
The allure of the product’s potential and career growth opportunities initially kept the writer on the job, but the negative impacts have become overwhelming. Working late into the night and frequently on Saturdays has severely affected his health, leading to high blood pressure, disrupted sleep, hair loss, and weight loss. Despite attempts to address the issues directly, confrontations have turned ugly, exacerbating anxiety.
Initially enthusiastic, the Redditor’s productivity and dedication were exploited by the founder, leading to significant physical and mental health deterioration. With no personal life left, he feels disconnected from family and lacks friends even while working from home.
Actively seeking a new job, the Redditor faces challenges in the current market conditions, with interviews yielding no offers, deepening his depression.
Pune resident bids adieu to his toxic workplace with an epic exit, dancing to the beats of a dhol
Aniket, a sales associate in Pune, recently bid farewell to his job of three years, citing a toxic work environment as the reason for his departure. His exit garnered attention after a video surfaced online, showing him dancing to the beats of a dhol outside his office. This unconventional farewell served as Aniket’s expressive response to the lack of respect and growth opportunities he experienced in his role.
Aniket’s departure from his job was marked by an unconventional and lively event. Disenchanted with his work environment and inadequate compensation, he left memorably. This incident underscores the pervasive issue of toxic work culture prevalent in many workplaces today, shedding light on the challenges employees face, such as insufficient respect and limited avenues for advancement.
To commemorate his last day at work, Aniket’s friends and popular content creator Anish Bhagat organized a surprise celebration. They arranged for musicians and dhols to create a vibrant ambience outside his office. Following his departure, Aniket intends to pursue his passion for fitness training. In a social media post, Bhagat urged others to support Aniket’s new venture.
Aniket’s story reflects a broader trend of employees leaving their jobs due to toxic bosses and work environments. A 2023 report by Harappa Insights underscored the detrimental impact of toxic workplaces on employee retention, with 58% citing toxic bosses and 54% citing toxic work environments as reasons for their departure.
Once the explanation was over, she asks me to look at her screen in a very soft voice, I looked, and she types on notepad, “Do you have a girlfriend?”
A male employee grapples with a situation involving two newly joined female colleagues. Assigned backing them up and providing initial training until official sessions commenced, the employee quickly established a rapport with the new team members. Despite efforts to maintain a clear boundary between professional and personal interactions, one of the female colleagues, particularly a fresher, exhibits behaviour that breaches personal space boundaries.
The employee notices that the fresher frequently initiates physical contact, such as pulling his hand, touching his hair, or leaning close during explanations. Even during remote work sessions, she uses a soft tone to ask personal questions, such as whether the employee has a girlfriend. While the employee acknowledges finding the behaviour endearing and non-offensive, he grapples with the absence of explicit consent for physical touch.
Uncertain whether the colleague’s actions constitute harassment or merely friendly behaviour reflective of her personality, the employee struggles to interpret the situation. He appreciates the comfort and vulnerability expressed by female colleagues but acknowledges the absence of explicit permission for physical contact. Unsure of how to proceed, he contemplates whether filing a complaint under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) policy is necessary.
These examples shed light on the pervasive toxicity in Indian workplaces, manifesting in various forms. While some victims muster the courage to come forward, many cases remain buried. It’s crucial to stay vigilant and prioritize mental well-being over corporate exploitation. After all, in the battle against these corporate bloodsuckers, safeguarding our mental health and loved ones should always take precedence.
