Employee's viral post sparks outrage over toxic work culture in corporate India

Dubai: A Reddit post by an Indian employee has gone viral, reigniting discussions around workplace toxicity and employee rights in the corporate sector.

The man, who joined a new company just five months ago, shared a distressing account of being placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) after refusing to work during his approved paid leave — a story that has struck a chord with thousands online.

According to the post, the company operates on a six-day workweek, but employees are allegedly expected to work even on Sundays to meet stringent deadlines. “My manager expects us to put in 5–6 hours on Sundays too,” the employee wrote.

The situation took a sharp turn when the employee, after finally securing a four-day leave following multiple discussions, was asked by his manager to work throughout his time off.

Due to travel plans, the employee informed his manager that he wouldn’t be available. The manager’s cold response — “I’d like to see that” — indicated brewing tension.

Upon returning from his leave, the employee noticed a sudden change in his manager’s behaviour. Later that day, he was called by HR and informed that he had been placed on a PIP for underperformance.

The Reddit post ended with the employee questioning the legality of such actions, expressing disbelief at how refusing to work during sanctioned leave could lead to such serious consequences. “Do organisations have so much unchecked power?” he asked, sparking a wave of empathy and debate in the comments.

Hundreds of users responded, condemning the company’s behaviour and calling it a stark example of exploitative practices. Some users highlighted how such patterns are unfortunately common in parts of the Indian corporate world, while others offered legal advice and urged the employee to document his experiences.

The viral post has not only drawn attention to an individual’s plight but has also opened up a broader conversation about employee rights, toxic leadership, and the urgent need for healthier work environments.