A recent viral Reddit post has ignited conversations about workplace toxicity and the unexpected turns career paths can take. An Indian techie, who wishes to remain anonymous, detailed his bewildering experience of being terminated from a high-paying job by a reportedly toxic boss, only to be rehired by the same company months later. The 31-year-old IT consultant shared his story on the r/IndianWorkplace subreddit, revealing how his decade-long career stability was disrupted after joining a foreign company as an independent contractor.
Initially thrilled with a 150% salary hike, USD payment, and a work-from-home setup, the techie described himself as “on cloud nine.” He dedicated long hours, including weekends, and felt well-compensated and engaged with the project. However, his relationship with his manager, also of Indian origin, began to deteriorate. The manager reportedly started nitpicking minor, non-essential aspects of his work and frequently brought up his salary in confrontational discussions. The techie also claimed his manager began demanding hourly updates and stopped compensating for overtime, citing “inefficiency.”
The situation escalated when the manager allegedly asked the techie to hire a specific individual as an unofficial support staff. When the techie suggested a formal contractor arrangement and even offered to train the person for free, his manager reportedly took offense and made his work life increasingly difficult. After enduring months of alleged verbal abuse, the techie finally stood up for himself, calmly stating that he would not tolerate such treatment and was open to termination if his work was unsatisfactory.
Shortly thereafter, he received a termination email from HR, citing “non-performance.” When questioned, his manager claimed the decision was made by upper management. Despite the abrupt end, the techie maintained professionalism through his two-week notice period, even receiving an appreciation email mid-way. However, the experience significantly impacted his mental health, leading to a two-month break.
Months later, in a turn of events that left him “confused,” the same company contacted him. First HR, then the senior manager reached out, expressing a desire for his return and promising a better work environment. The techie is now grappling with the decision, weighing the attractive salary and benefits against the negative past experience and the uncertainty of whether things would truly change.