In a revealing confession that has captured the attention of the internet, an Indian tech professional laid bare his harrowing experience within the stifling walls of a startup, where the very essence of a healthy work culture seemed to be a distant memory. This unfortunate narrative, shared on Reddit, painted a stark picture—one where twelve-hour workdays became the norm, and guidance appeared to be a rare luxury.
“Cried in front of tech lead”
Describing his tumultuous journey, the Reddit user known as ‘MoveTraditional2588’ recounted a particularly emotional moment—one driven by sheer frustration and an overwhelming sense of isolation. “Once, I was subjected to such intense verbal abuse that I found myself in tears, right in front of my tech lead during a Google Meet,” he revealed. The storm of difficulties began to brew the moment he stepped into the office, devoid of proper training and clarity about his role.
“I was not given clear instructions nor any training from day one. I faced outright abuse,” the techie lamented, his virtual post echoing a cry for help, tinged with the despair of those trapped in similar situations.
As days turned into weeks, he and a colleague reached a grim conclusion: the expectation of any form of appreciation had been extinguished. Instead, they clung to a mere hope of preventing further humiliation. This toxic environment often stretched their work hours to a staggering 12, sometimes unfurling into 14 or even 15-hour marathons.
The startup, he noted, was operated by a mere trio of founders with only two employees, an arrangement that underscored the precariousness of their circumstances. “There are only two employees and three founders, with one juggling backend duties while assuming the role of tech lead,” he noted. The imbalance was glaring.
In a desperate bid for clarity, he sought a conversation with his superiors about the mounting issues. Shockingly, this attempt ended in further rebuke. “Overcome with emotion, I broke down. The mental toll was too much to bear, leading me to announce I would take a leave of absence after a few hours of the meeting,” he disclosed, a native echo of despair reverberating through his words.
The location of this beleaguered company remained undisclosed within the post, leaving an air of mystery surrounding the claims, which Mint could not independently verify.
“Netizens rally behind the techie”
What followed was a surge of support from social media users, many of whom empathized with the techie’s plight and urged him to pursue alternative employment. “Leave that place immediately!” exclaimed one user, branding the structure a “fraud with three seniors and two employees.” Enthusiastic encouragement flooded in, with advice favoring established companies over such dysfunctional startups.
“I genuinely feel for you. It’s entirely okay to break down in such a toxic environment,” offered a sympathetic voice among the comments. Another follower imparted wisdom: “You don’t cry because you’re weak, but because you’ve tried to be strong for far too long.”
Calls for immediate action echoed through the thread. “With only two employees and three founders, escape that LALA company at once! Indian startups often harbor egos of this nature—you’d be better off at TCS or Infosys, or even freelancing,” remarked a user, summing up a common sentiment.
In the face of adversity, the techie expressed gratitude to the Reddit community, sharing that he had initiated the search for a more promising job—a glimmer of hope amid the challenging landscape of a toxic workplace.
