A weekend shift that was meant to move a client project forward has instead led to a heated debate about workplace respect and boundaries. A Pune-based developer recently shared his experience on Reddit, describing how being called into office on a Saturday ended in a confrontation with his CEO and left him questioning whether he was right to speak up.
In his Reddit post, the developer wrote that he works on a client project where most requirements are communicated verbally. He claimed that nearly 80 to 90 percent of the instructions are shared in conversations, while Jira tickets barely run to ten lines. According to him, this has led to repeated frontend and backend changes and delays because of unclear direction.
He said he was asked to work from the office on a Saturday. He reached at his usual time, but found that an event with around 25 to 30 people had occupied the entire office space. With no workstation available, he had to wait outside for nearly one to one-and-a-half hours.
Although the CEO reportedly offered him a seat inside his cabin, the developer declined and instead requested that his system be arranged so he could begin work properly.
Confrontation With the CEO
After waiting for about 1.5 hours, frustration took over. The developer wrote that he told the CEO that if the event was already planned, his setup could have been arranged in advance. The CEO responded, “Keep this attitude at your home, and I didn’t even know you were coming,” despite having asked him to come in on Saturday.
The developer admitted he reacted in a raised tone and said the CEO does not value other people’s time. Later, he said the CEO tried to ease the situation by placing a hand on his shoulder and telling him not to take it seriously. The developer said he moved his shoulder slightly and walked away. He added that the CEO then remarked that performing well does not mean he can show attitude, after which he chose not to respond further.
He also mentioned that there would be no compensatory off for working on Saturday. He added that the company does not provide laptops and that employees work on desktop systems, which is why working from home was not an option.
In his post, the developer said he was unsure whether his reaction was right or wrong. He wrote that he came to work only because his intent and honesty toward work are “100%” and that he wants to give his full effort. Still, he admitted feeling deeply disheartened after the incident.
Reddit Reacts
The post drew mixed reactions from other Reddit users. One commenter, identifying as a full-stack developer, said the reaction was completely valid and that professionals need to recognise their worth and stand up for themselves.
Another user described it as a typical corporate experience and advised caution, saying that showing open defiance to a CEO can have consequences. The commenter added that while the frustration may be understandable, such situations should be handled more carefully unless one is prepared for possible fallout.
A few others suggested that workplace frustrations are common and need to be managed calmly. One commenter felt the developer could have worked from the CEO’s cabin and asked for a compensatory off later. Another questioned why office presence was mandatory, to which the original poster replied that the team does not have laptops and works only on desktops.