In a chilling account shared on Reddit, a woman employee was allegedly asked by her manager to devise a plan to fire all married employees and replace them with “young modern people.” The request wasn’t made in jest—it was part of a pattern of discrimination, humiliation, and emotional abuse that paints a disturbing picture of workplace toxicity in India’s startup ecosystem.
The post, written by a close friend of the impacted employee, details a series of incidents that go far beyond poor management. From mocking her for not being able to handle eyebrow threading to commenting on her weight and appearance, the manager’s behavior was not just unprofessional—it was deeply personal and cruel.
The employee was reportedly forced to make 100 sales calls and send 500 WhatsApp messages daily, with no regard for mental health or work-life balance. Salary cuts were handed out for being ten minutes late, yet there was no recognition for nights spent working past 10 p.m. Benefits? None. Appreciation? Absent.
Even basic professional boundaries were violated. When the employee created and documented ideas in a Word file, another team member allegedly stole them and presented them off as their own. When confronted with proof, the manager dismissed the complaint as “overreacting.”
Retaliation over accountability
After a year of service, the employee asked for a promised raise. Instead, she was told to resign. Worse, she was threatened not to speak about her experience. The final blow came when the manager fired all founding team members—those who had dared to ask for what they were owed. As of today, the employee is still awaiting her full and final settlement.
This isn’t just one story. It’s a reflection of a larger rot—where toxic leadership is allowed to thrive under the guise of startup hustle, and where basic human dignity is sacrificed at the altar of growth metrics.
The cost of silence
What makes this story especially alarming is how normalised such behavior has become. In many startups, especially those without robust HR systems, founders and managers operate with unchecked power. Employees are expected to endure, adapt, and stay silent. But silence has a cost—and it’s paid in burnout, broken trust, and lost talent.
India’s labor laws offer some protection, but enforcement is patchy, and many employees fear retaliation. Whistleblowing is rare, and when it happens, it’s often dismissed as “drama” or “disgruntlement.”
Time for a reckoning
If we want to build truly modern workplaces, they must be rooted in respect—not just innovation. Founders and managers must be held accountable not only for business outcomes but for how they treat people. Toxicity isn’t a side effect of ambition—it’s a failure of leadership.
This story, whether fully verified or not, should serve as a wake-up call. Because behind every Reddit post is a real person, a real career, and a real cry for help.