Punishment for missing targets: Employee shares video of being made to hold ears and run stairs

Time of India

05-05-2025

What can be the punishment for committing an error at the workplace? Some would get reprimanded by the manager. Those who are more unfortunate may get sacked if the error is unsalvageable. However, one employee was subjected to unthinkable levels of humiliation when he was made to run up and down the stairs, holding his ears like a truant schoolboy.
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Piyush Kumar, a former employee of
Hike Education
, publicly shared his disturbing experience on LinkedIn.
He revealed that he had resigned with immediate effect, citing repeated
mental harassment
, public defamation, and professional humiliation at the hands of his senior manager, Ruchi Parashar. In his detailed post, he described how the workplace environment had become toxic and psychologically abusive during his tenure of roughly one year, despite his genuine efforts to support students and promote higher education.
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According to Piyush, he was constantly pressured to meet specific admission targets. The pressure escalated to an absurd and degrading level when he was forced to sign a written note that stated he would take 50 rounds of the stairs if he failed to meet his target.
When he couldn't meet the goal one day, he was made to run up and down the stairs while holding his ears in the manner of a misbehaving schoolchild—an act carried out in full view of his colleagues. The humiliation did not stop there. Another employee was instructed to record the incident on video, which was then posted in the company's official WhatsApp group with a warning to others that similar treatment awaited anyone who failed to perform.
Following this, Piyush approached the human resources department and requested a formal investigation into the abusive conduct. Rather than take action, the company abruptly deactivated his official email, effectively cutting off communication and refusing to acknowledge his complaint.
Persistent in his pursuit of justice, he eventually secured a virtual meeting with the CEO, Rahul Sharma. However, to his shock, the CEO trivialized the issue, stating it was 'not serious' despite having evidence of psychological abuse and public embarrassment. Notably, the CEO is also the spouse of the accused manager, Ruchi Parashar, raising serious concerns about conflict of interest and accountability.
The retaliation escalated further. Piyush was summoned to a private meeting where his phone was confiscated by the Vv Kshitij Jindal. During this meeting, he was threatened with a fabricated POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) complaint if he did not withdraw his allegations.
Still refusing to stay silent, he was forcibly taken to a police station, where a false informal complaint was lodged against him for stalking. There, he was physically assaulted by police, coerced into apologizing to Ruchi, and forced to sign a fabricated confession claiming the stair-punishment incident was merely a 'fun activity.' He was also warned to remain silent or risk imprisonment.
Upon retrieving his phone, Piyush discovered that crucial evidence—video footage, call logs, and personal WhatsApp data—had been deleted. The experience, he claimed, was an egregious violation of his rights and a chilling example of workplace abuse gone unchecked.
Along with the post, Piyush also shared a video of him going up and down the stairs, holding his ears.
Netizens React
His post went viral on the job-sharing portal, gaining over 6,000 likes. Many netizens chastised Hike Education for its inhumane working culture. 'These ed-techs are becoming the worst workplace for all. Most toxic work cultures are present here… wrote one.
Another commented, 'Shame on these people.'
Company Denies Allegations Made by Former Employee
Hike Education has issued a formal response to the allegations, categorically denying all claims and condemning them as defamatory and malicious.
In the statement, the company asserted that Kumar's accusations are entirely false and appear to be a deliberate attempt to harm the personal and professional standing of Ms. Ruchi Parashar, a manager at the firm, as well as the reputation of the organization itself.
Addressing a video that has been circulated online, the company clarified that it depicts a light-hearted, voluntary team activity in which Kumar can be clearly seen participating enthusiastically and without hesitation. The statement emphasized that there was no sign of discomfort or coercion during the event. According to the company, Mr. Kumar only began misrepresenting the incident after the company rejected his unethical demand for a payment of ₹3.6 lakhs.
Furthermore, Hike Education revealed that it had received multiple complaints in April 2025 from female staff members regarding Kumar's inappropriate conduct. In response, the company followed due process in accordance with its internal POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) policy and also involved local law enforcement in an effort to resolve the matter responsibly and lawfully.
The company added that Kumar had previously acknowledged his misconduct and gave a written assurance committing to refrain from further inappropriate actions, including any form of blackmail or dissemination of false claims against the organization or its employees.