Bengaluru: Woman recounts workplace harassment incident
A Bengaluru-based product designer has stirred a wider debate on workplace toxicity after recounting an incident where her manager threw a Dell computer mouse at her face. The revelation, made during the Tech Roast Show in Bengaluru last year, recently resurfaced on Instagram and has since gone viral, sparking outrage and discussions on toxic corporate environments.
The woman, who chose to remain anonymous, said the incident took place several years ago while she was working in Mumbai. She recalled that it happened on her last day of employment, when a misunderstanding with her manager escalated into violence.
Manager’s angry outburst
According to her account, the manager had instructed her to complete a task, but she mistakenly began working on something else. Enraged, the manager reportedly hurled a mouse at her face in a fit of anger.
“It was an extremely traumatic experience,” the woman shared. “I developed severe trauma after this incident and I make it very clear to any company I join that communication should be empathetic and not fuelled by anger.”
She also claimed that the manager’s behaviour was not an isolated incident. “He had anger issues and directed his outbursts towards multiple employees, both when I was there and even after I left,” she added.
Broader culture of toxicity in design industry
The woman further alleged that such toxic behaviour is widespread in the design industry. Poor pay and unaddressed workplace harassment, she said, often create a culture where employees suffer in silence.
“In design as an industry, it is unfortunately common to face toxic work cultures. Low pay makes it even harder for people to speak up. I hope sharing my story encourages others to talk openly about such issues, because they are very common yet ignored,” she explained.
Viral video sparks online reactions
The resurfaced video of her testimony has triggered strong reactions online. Social media users condemned the incident, calling it unacceptable.
“This should not be normalised, not even as a joke,” one Instagram user commented. Another pointed out, “This would be a lawsuit in the US.”
The video has also reignited conversations around workplace rights in India, highlighting the need for stronger mechanisms to address harassment and promote employee well-being.
Moving towards a healthier workplace
Fortunately, the designer has since moved on to a healthier professional environment. She said that her present workplace values empathy and communication, which has helped her heal from the trauma.
Her experience, however, serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address workplace toxicity in India. With many employees, particularly in creative fields, continuing to face silent abuse, her story has become a rallying point for conversations on accountability, mental health, and workplace ethics.