New Delhi : A software engineer who left a well-known startup to join multinational banking giant JPMorgan Chase (JPMC) has said the move left them regretting their decision, after facing long working hours, bureaucracy and what they described as a toxic workplace culture.
The engineer shared their experience in a post on Reddit, saying they had joined the multinational company as an SDE2 around three-and-a-half months earlier. Instead of finding the stability and professional environment they had expected, the employee said the new role had become a source of daily stress.
The account has sparked discussion online about workplace culture, career decisions and whether a higher-profile employer or better salary necessarily translates into greater job satisfaction.
Engineer describes 12–14-hour workdays
According to the employee, the biggest difficulty has been the workload and working environment.
The engineer claimed they were working between 12 and 14 hours a day, while also dealing with multiple layers of bureaucracy that made completing projects unnecessarily difficult.
They said employees had to repeatedly follow up with people through messages and emails to get work moving, while managerial interactions added to the pressure.
The employee also alleged that their manager would send messages at around 10 pm asking for work updates, making it difficult to maintain a clear boundary between professional and personal time.
Reporting structure changed three times
The employee said the experience was also different from what had been communicated during the hiring process.
They claimed they had initially been told they would work under a different manager with an existing team. However, according to the post, their reporting structure changed three times during their first month.
The engineer said they were immediately assigned to an urgent project but were expected to understand its complexities largely on their own.
They also claimed that some colleagues who joined around the same time were removed from the team because they were unable to understand the work quickly enough.
These experiences, the employee said, contributed to a growing sense of uncertainty and frustration.
Startup now feels like a better workplace
Ironically, the engineer said their previous startup job — which had also involved long hours during important product releases — now appeared considerably better in comparison.
The employee acknowledged that the startup could be demanding, particularly around major releases, but said the working environment and relationships with colleagues and managers made the experience more manageable.
The contrast has left the engineer reconsidering the decision to leave.
Despite earning what they described as sufficient money at the multinational company, the employee said financial compensation alone had not made the new role worthwhile.
Employee considers returning to old company
The engineer revealed that senior colleagues at the previous company had kept the door open for a possible return.
According to the post, the former engineering manager had told the employee when they resigned that they could return, while their former team leader continued to encourage them to come back.
That option has now become a serious consideration.
The employee asked online whether they should resign and approach the former employer or continue trying to adjust to the current workplace.
The dilemma reflects a broader career question faced by professionals who leave familiar workplaces in pursuit of higher salaries, reputed employers or perceived career growth.
Physical and mental exhaustion reported
The employee’s account went beyond dissatisfaction with workplace procedures.
They said the experience had left them mentally exhausted and described feeling physical symptoms at the thought of going to work.
The comments have prompted some social media users to advise the engineer to prioritise their wellbeing and speak with their team before making a final decision.
Others suggested waiting to see whether the workload would ease after the current period and discussing the concerns with management.
Some commenters also shared similar experiences of moving from smaller companies to large multinational organisations and finding that bureaucracy made even routine tasks take considerably longer.
Higher salary does not always mean better experience
The discussion surrounding the post has highlighted a familiar dilemma in the technology industry.
Large multinational companies are often associated with stability, brand recognition, structured career paths and attractive compensation. Startups, meanwhile, are frequently associated with faster decision-making, greater responsibility and more direct interaction with leadership.
However, individual experiences can vary significantly.
A large organisation may offer stability but involve multiple approval layers and complex processes. A startup may provide greater flexibility while demanding longer hours and requiring employees to take on broader responsibilities.
The engineer’s experience demonstrates why workplace culture, management style, workload and expectations can be as important as salary when evaluating a career move.
Online debate continues
The Reddit post has generated responses from technology workers who offered different perspectives.
Some users advised the engineer to speak openly with colleagues and management before making a decision. Others argued that consistently working 12–14 hours a day and experiencing severe stress should not be treated as a normal part of employment.
Several commenters also pointed out that returning to a former employer can be a reasonable option if the relationship remains positive and the previous workplace genuinely offered a healthier environment.
At the same time, the experience described in the post represents one employee’s account and should not be treated as a general assessment of the organisation or all multinational workplaces.
A reminder to assess workplace culture
The episode offers a broader lesson for professionals considering a job change.
Salary, company reputation and job title can be important factors, but candidates may also benefit from understanding team culture, reporting structures, expected working hours, management practices and the actual responsibilities attached to a role.
Questions about these areas during interviews can help candidates form a clearer picture of their prospective workplace.
For the engineer at the centre of the discussion, the decision now appears to be between remaining in a job that they say is causing significant stress and exploring the possibility of returning to a workplace where they previously felt more comfortable.
The experience has also sparked a wider conversation online about what employees ultimately value in a career — money and brand recognition, or a sustainable workplace where professional growth can coexist with personal wellbeing.