A few Instagram reels meant to joke about corporate life have now triggered a larger conversation about power, workplace culture and retaliation in Indian offices.
A Reddit post by an employee working at a private agency has gone viral after the employee alleged that a senior manager began targeting staff members over “corporate rant” reels shared on social media.
The controversy has since sparked debate online, with many users calling the behaviour unprofessional and advising the employee to approach HR.
In a post shared on the subreddit r/IndianWorkplace, the employee said the reels featured generic workplace humour and were filmed during lunch breaks or downtime.
The employee clarified that the videos did not mention the company, reveal confidential information or target any specific individual.
According to the post, a branch head who was not the employee’s direct manager recently saw the videos and “clearly did not like them.”
Soon after, the employee alleged that seating arrangements in the office were changed and teammates who earlier sat nearby were moved directly outside the manager’s cabin.
The employee further claimed the manager was known for “constantly staring at people, especially women,” which had already made some employees uncomfortable. The post also alleged that a friend currently on probation was being unfairly targeted because she appeared in some of the reels and interacted with the posts online.
“He also apparently told her that she ‘disobeyed him’ when she said she was uncomfortable sitting in front of his cabin,” the employee wrote.
The employee maintained that the content was unrelated to the company and said there were no official workplace policies banning filming or social media activity.
“My friend’s work performance is apparently fine. This is purely about her being associated with me,” the post said, while questioning whether the situation amounted to retaliation.
The post quickly gained traction online and drew reactions from users, many of whom urged the employee to formally document the incidents.
“If uncomfortable part and threatening to extend probation and other parts you mentioned is true and in writing, a very strong case for POSH / Internal Harassment. If verbal, a witness may help,” a user wrote.
“File a complaint, atleast his ass would be on fire as well,” another wrote.