A chilling submit on Reddit’s r/IndianWorkplace has triggered an outpouring of empathy and anger, as an ex-employee of a Bengaluru startup recounted a harrowing ordeal of alleged office abuse. The Reddit person, a former Junior Knowledge Scientist, described struggling an entire breakdown throughout a video name after enduring seven months of what they termed “relentless psychological harassment” by their CEO, an expertise that has struck a nerve with hundreds on-line.
The nameless poster shared their story in an in depth account titled “I had an entire breakdown throughout a piece video name as a result of my CEO saved screaming – nonetheless coping with the trauma.” They described becoming a member of the startup with excessive hopes, solely to be “psychologically tortured” by a non-technical CEO who allegedly micromanaged tasks, imposed “unrealistic deadlines,” and exploded in rage over technical issues he didn’t perceive.
“The CEO – I’ll name him Devil himself as a result of that’s actually what he felt like – had zero technical background… He’d create these utterly unrealistic deadlines from skinny air… after which lose his full thoughts when actuality didn’t match his delusions,” the person wrote.
Over seven months, they stated they labored 12–14 hour days together with weekends, took solely two sick days, and nonetheless confronted every day verbal abuse. The ultimate straw got here throughout a Google Meet name, the place the CEO allegedly berated the worker so aggressively that they collapsed mid-call and needed to be rushed to the hospital by their mom. “The verbal assault was so brutal that I actually couldn’t breathe correctly… my chest began tightening… and I utterly collapsed in my chair,” they wrote.
Even after resigning, the person claims the harassment continued, with HR allegedly framing their medical emergency as a “charity,” delaying their last paperwork, and demeaning them over sick depart. “She truly claimed that offering my expertise letter was a ‘gracious gesture’ on their half,” the submit learn.
The submit shortly drew help from different Redditors. One commenter wrote: “What you skilled wasn’t only a poisonous job, it was psychological abuse. Sharing your story takes actual braveness.” One other urged the poster to talk out: “Identify and disgrace, my good friend… this gained’t cease until this comes into public and media consideration.”
The subreddit’s moderators additionally acknowledged the seriousness of the submit, stating, “We have now up to date our subreddit guidelines. Henceforth, individuals can title and disgrace organisations however not the bosses until the bosses are public figures on the degree of Bhavish or Deepinder, and many others.”
In closing, the unique poster addressed others in related conditions: “To anybody presently trapped in an analogous nightmare: your psychological well being is infinitely extra necessary than any wage. Belief your instincts. If somebody constantly makes you’re feeling nugatory, the problem is with them, not you.”
