A post on Reddit’s r/IndianWorkplace has sparked discussion after an employee claimed their company refused to pay wages because they resigned within a week due to a toxic work environment.
According to the post, the employee had joined a small firm of around 20 people as a marketing executive with an annual salary of ₹5.04 lakh. They alleged that the workplace had a strict six-day work week, nine-hour shifts, and constant surveillance through CCTV cameras placed above desks. The employee also described heavy micromanagement from the founder and said most staff were fresh graduates who “don’t realise they are being exploited.”
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Tensions escalated when the employee reportedly left work 10 minutes early due to a migraine. The manager, who was working remotely, allegedly called and reprimanded them, insisting that prior permission was required and that full shift compliance was mandatory. The employee claimed they were warned that non-compliance would make work conditions “hell.”
Following this incident, the employee decided to resign within a week, citing toxic behaviour. However, they later claimed the company refused to pay for the days worked, arguing that they had failed to serve the mandatory notice period of 15 days, even during probation. The company also allegedly told the employee they should be “thankful” that no recovery was being sought from them.
The employee shared screenshots of WhatsApp conversations, which reportedly show HR reiterating company policy regarding notice periods while denying immediate payment. The employee, however, argued that withholding wages for work already completed was unfair and stated, “Hiring employees is not the same as owning them.”
The post triggered mixed reactions online. While some users doubted whether the employee would recover the salary, others advised documenting all communication and escalating the matter legally.
