A workplace dispute at a Noida-based startup has triggered widespread debate online after an employee with 12 years of professional experience claimed he was terminated for refusing to work on a weekend while unwell.
‘Resign or be terminated,’ employee alleges
The employee shared his experience in a post on Reddit, stating that he was fired just two months after joining the four-year-old startup to handle US e-commerce operations. Titled “Got fired for not working on the weekend”, the post alleged that management gave him an ultimatum to either resign or face termination, citing his probationary status.
According to the employee, the company hired another senior professional within a month of his joining and later informed him that the new hire would lead both teams. He claimed that the new manager restructured sales targets without considering existing business constraints.
Claims of micromanagement and pressure
The employee alleged that despite raising concerns with senior management and founders about unrealistic targets, his objections were dismissed. He further claimed that the new lead began micromanaging his work and regularly expected him to work beyond standard hours and on weekends.
The situation reportedly escalated when he informed his manager that he was unwell and would not be working on a particular weekend. When he returned to office the following Monday, he was allegedly asked to leave due to “poor performance”.
Online reaction highlights startup work culture fears
The post struck a chord with many professionals, who described the episode as a case of office politics and toxic startup culture. Several users questioned the use of probation clauses for experienced professionals and warned about job insecurity in startups, particularly for employees with family responsibilities.
The incident has renewed conversations around employee rights, probation policies and work-life balance in India’s startup ecosystem, where long hours and informal practices often blur professional boundaries.