An Indian techie went viral on Reddit after sharing his distressing experience of the co-founder of his startup verbally abusing him. In a heart-wrenching post, he revealed how the co-founder’s toxic behavior led him to tears during a video call, sparking widespread support from the online community.
The techie, who works at a startup where the co-founder also serves as the tech lead, recounted a difficult incident where he expressed frustration over inadequate instructions for a project. Instead of receiving constructive feedback, he claims the founder verbally abused him. “I cried on Google Meet in front of the tech lead. I do not know how to face it now,” he shared, describing how the encounter left him emotionally drained and unable to continue working.
The techie further accused the co-founder of imposing long, 15-hour work shifts with no clear guidance. He decided to take the rest of the day off after the emotional outburst, explaining that he was mentally unprepared to continue working.
The post quickly gained attention, with Reddit users offering emotional support and advice. Many encouraged him to prioritize his mental health and consider exploring new job opportunities. One commenter wrote, “Crying is healthy, and if someone doesn’t understand that, who cares? You are brave, and you will thrive no matter what!”
Others urged him to assert himself more at work and look for a healthier environment. “Try to get out of that place. You are just a resource for them. They will exploit you as much as you let them,” said one user, while another advised, “Believe in your skills, start interviewing, and dump them once you get a better job. Do it for your mental health.”
In a follow-up comment, the techie expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support. He shared that after the incident, he took a more assertive approach in his next video call with the boss and plans to seek new job opportunities while staying with his current employer for the time being.
