Man quits job on first day after boss tells him to work overtime without compensation

A man was left baffled by the toxic work environment he encountered on his very first day at a new job, leading him to resign after his Indian boss bluntly told him to work overtime without expecting any compensation.

Shreyas, a product designer, shared his experience, explaining that his employer dismissed the concept of work-life balance as a "Western idea."

He was not only disturbed by the absence of overtime compensation but also by the demeaning attitude of his boss, who chastised him harshly on the first day.

Shreyas recounted his ordeal on Reddit, asking for referrals to professional opportunities in his field.

He had accepted a position as an Associate Product Designer with a salary of INR7 LPA, below the fair median for his two years of experience, because the role was remote.

"At the end of my first day, October 7, my reporting manager made it clear that he expected unreasonable commitments — working beyond normal hours without any compensation," Shreyas wrote in his post.

"When I tried to establish boundaries, he mocked me for mentioning 'work-life balance,' calling it a 'fancy term' and 'Western developed nation behavior.' He also ridiculed my desire to have time for reading and exercise, dismissing it as mere excuses," he added.

Shreyas explained that while he was open to working beyond regular hours, it was the personal attacks, belittling, and ridicule that concerned him.

He questioned how a company that doesn't respect the personal lives of employees, despite expecting them to work 12 to 14 hours daily, could provide a healthy work environment.

“I am mature enough to understand there’s a difference between exploitation, toxic environment and those that aren’t,” he stated.

Shreyas also shared screenshots of emails exchanged with his employer during his resignation. He informed his boss that expecting extra work hours without compensation violated legal standards and disrespected employees' dignity.

"I believe it would be best for you to find someone more aligned with your expectations," he wrote in his resignation email.

In response, his boss accepted the resignation, stating that any attempt to clarify the situation would not be "fruitful."

He wished Shreyas the best of luck in his professional journey and mentioned that the salary for his one day of work would be transferred to his account.