Bengaluru: An employee from the city has alleged that he was abruptly terminated by a Canada-based company without prior notice or severance pay, leaving him financially and emotionally distressed. His detailed Reddit post has since gone viral, sparking debate about workplace ethics, multinational corporations’ responsibilities, and the growing vulnerabilities of employees in remote work setups.
Allegations of sudden dismissal
According to the employee, the firm cited “performance issues” as the reason for his termination. However, he claimed he had never received any formal warnings, performance reviews, or opportunities to address alleged shortcomings before being let go.
The sudden dismissal has raised questions about transparency in human resource practices, particularly in remote employment models where cross-border labour laws and protections often fall into grey areas.
Concerns over severance pay
The employee further said he was not offered severance pay, which is generally seen as a critical financial safeguard for workers who face unexpected job loss. He argued that his offer letter clearly mentioned a two-month notice period if he were to resign, and questioned why the company was not following the same principle in his termination.
“I’ve always been a strong performer. This feels like convenient cost-cutting disguised as performance issues. I asked for my settlement and two months’ severance, but the CEO threatened to withhold even my pending salary unless I returned the company laptop by September 19. I am considering legal notice,” he wrote.
Online debate and reactions
The viral post has triggered widespread discussion, with many netizens condemning the company’s alleged practices. Several users shared personal experiences of abrupt terminations and urged the employee to take legal action.
One commenter advised, “Check your termination clause. If they didn’t issue warnings or a performance improvement plan, you can file a complaint with the labour commissioner.”
Others expressed solidarity: “No advice, but more power to you, OP. Things will improve soon. You got this.”
Larger implications for remote workers
Labour experts note that cases like this expose the fragile protections available to Indian employees working for overseas companies, particularly in remote roles. Unlike domestic firms, cross-border employers may not always follow Indian labour laws strictly, leaving workers dependent on contract clauses and legal recourse through labour courts or the labour commissioner.
The Canada-based company named in the post has not yet released an official statement. Meanwhile, employee unions and workplace rights advocates have urged for stronger enforcement of fair termination and severance practices in remote and multinational employment.
Conclusion
The incident underscores a growing need for clarity in employment contracts, better legal safeguards for remote workers, and stricter action against firms that disregard fair labour practices. With Bengaluru emerging as a major hub for global remote jobs, such disputes are expected to become more common unless policies are tightened.