Bengaluru engineer broke down on a work call and the reason is heartbreaking

Time of India

2 days ago

In a world where work often takes priority over people, a story from Bengaluru has started some tough but important conversations. A young software engineer broke down in tears during a regular video call– an emotional moment that was later shared anonymously on LinkedIn and quickly caught people's attention.
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It wasn't shocking because it was unusual, but because so many could relate.
The post, shared by someone who wanted to bring more attention to what happened, described the difficult experience the employee went through. It wasn't about missing deadlines or doing a bad job. It was about constant emotional pressure, a lack of support, and being humiliated in front of others– things that eventually led the engineer to quit.
No welcome, no guidance– just pressure
According to the post, the engineer had joined the company full of hope– but things quickly went downhill. There was no proper onboarding, no clear project explanation, and no guidance. From the very first day, he was expected to 'figure everything out' on his own, which soon became overwhelming.
During one team call, he asked a basic question to better understand the project– a normal thing for any new hire. But instead of support, he was shut down in a rude and embarrassing way.
That moment, he said, was the final straw.
'I cried on a G-Meet because I asked for clarity on a project. That's how bad it got,' the employee shared, as quoted in the post.
LinkedIn Post:
From silence to shame: Inside the day-to-day
The post describes a workplace where asking questions was treated like a weakness. It wasn't just that no one offered help– it felt like no one cared. Over time, the engineer stopped looking for support or encouragement. Instead, he just focused on staying out of the spotlight, hoping to avoid being embarrassed in front of others.
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'We've stopped hoping for appreciation. Now, we just hope we aren't shamed in front of everyone,' the post quoted him saying.
On top of everything else, the engineer had to deal with late-night calls, unclear expectations, and constant emotional dismissal. Whenever he raised concerns, they were ignored. And when things went wrong– no matter the reason– the blame was often dumped on the team, with no one taking real responsibility.
Resignation met with hostility
Eventually, the employee chose to leave. But instead of being met with basic respect, his exit was reportedly handled in a cold and unpleasant way. 'Good luck finding another job. Let's see how long you last there,' was what the manager allegedly said during the exit interaction. According to the post, this moment reflected the kind of leadership the engineer had faced all along– one that chose control and authority over listening and support.
Not an isolated case
One line from the post captured the heart of the story– and perhaps the pain felt by many others reading it: 'People don't leave companies. They leave environments where their dignity is no longer safe.'
The post concluded with a reminder that while organisations often focus on systems and targets, it's the people leading them who shape what the day-to-day experience really feels like. 'A bad manager can make a dream job hell.
A good one can make even a messy job feel meaningful. So be grateful to great managers, they're rarer than you think.'
Online reactions: Familiar stories, shared pain
LinkedIn users across industries were quick to respond, and the post gained significant traction. Many professionals shared their own experiences of poor management, emotional neglect, and toxic work environments. One comment read:
'This post hits hard. It's heartbreaking to see how leadership, or the lack thereof, can deeply impact someone's confidence and mental health. A strong reminder that as leaders, our greatest responsibility is to uplift, listen, and create an environment where people feel valued and safe.'
Another user added: 'These days, dream jobs are more myth than reality.'