An employee couldn’t keep her ire in check when her manager messaged her, expressing his “disappointment” at the wee hours of the morning. The employee shared the conversation between her and her former boss on the subreddit Indian Workplace. The young woman, who lost her father due to COVID-19 a few weeks before, was working on a ‘top priority’ project from 9:00 am in the morning to well into the night (12:00 am), was exhausted, and passed out for a few hours, only to be reprimanded by her manager.
Not being able to restrain her fury, she bluntly told him she had fallen asleep and woken up with her laptop open and that she had no control over when exhaustion would overtake her. However, she assured him that she would complete pending responsibilities before he arrives at 10:30 am.
In the final screenshot of their conversation, the manager appeared to soften his tone, attempting to mend the situation. He claimed he viewed her as a vital part of the core team and hinted that she had the potential for bigger responsibilities in the future. His comments, however, seemed less like encouragement and more like a typical attempt at damage control.
Later, in the comments of her post, the employee revealed that she had been working at a startup, and the manager was not just a superior but also one of the co-founders. She criticized the startup culture, pointing out how founders often expect employees to treat the business as if it were their own while failing to treat those employees with basic human understanding and respect.
Her story resonated with many Redditors. One user sarcastically asked what she had been doing between four and nine in the morning, echoing the manager’s unrealistic expectations. Another warned her not to sacrifice her health for empty promises of career growth, suggesting that her boss seemed more interested in overworking her than actually elevating her role.
Add Now!
Several commenters shared their own experiences of startup exploitation. One recalled being pressured to be available at all times, including weekends, and even reprimanded for missing a Sunday evening meeting. That individual eventually left the company within six months and reported being far happier since, wishing the same outcome for her—a workplace that truly values both time and effort.
Not being able to restrain her fury, she bluntly told him she had fallen asleep and woken up with her laptop open and that she had no control over when exhaustion would overtake her. However, she assured him that she would complete pending responsibilities before he arrives at 10:30 am.
In the final screenshot of their conversation, the manager appeared to soften his tone, attempting to mend the situation. He claimed he viewed her as a vital part of the core team and hinted that she had the potential for bigger responsibilities in the future. His comments, however, seemed less like encouragement and more like a typical attempt at damage control.
Later, in the comments of her post, the employee revealed that she had been working at a startup, and the manager was not just a superior but also one of the co-founders. She criticized the startup culture, pointing out how founders often expect employees to treat the business as if it were their own while failing to treat those employees with basic human understanding and respect.
Her story resonated with many Redditors. One user sarcastically asked what she had been doing between four and nine in the morning, echoing the manager’s unrealistic expectations. Another warned her not to sacrifice her health for empty promises of career growth, suggesting that her boss seemed more interested in overworking her than actually elevating her role.
Add 
as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
