Latest news with #IndianWorkplace
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Actress-turned-CEO explains why she paid employees less. Internet calls out her ‘entitlement.' Who is Parul Gulati?
Actress-turned-entrepreneur Parul Gulati became a laughingstock on the popular subreddit Indian Workplace when she boasted about allowing employees to dine at the same table as her. In an interview, Gulati spoke at length on how she had learned to pay her employees in money rather than do them favours. She admitted that earlier she used to pay less and thought that she would make up for it in other ways. 'Don't do extra favours such as serving them at the same table as you. They are not counted. Pay them the amount they are asking for,' she stated. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Digital Marketing Healthcare others Leadership Technology Management Operations Management Finance Product Management MCA Data Science Cybersecurity Degree Others Public Policy MBA PGDM CXO healthcare Data Science Project Management Data Analytics Design Thinking Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategies Customer Journey Mapping Paid Advertising Campaign Management Emerging Technologies in Digital Marketing Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Digital Marketing and Analytics Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Digital Marketing Strategy Search Engine Optimization (SEO) & Content Marketing Social Media Marketing & Advertising Data Analytics & Measurement Duration: 24 Weeks Indian School of Business Professional Certificate Programme in Digital Marketing Starts on Jun 26, 2024 Get Details Netizens React This statement did not go down well with netizens. One Reddit user quipped, 'What does she even mean by that? Entitlement is on the next level.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invest 80$ In The Investment Package And Earn Monthly TradeApp Another wrote, 'Who even wants to eat on the same table as her?' Another thought she made a valid point and explained that at the end of the day, employees work for a salary. While it's thoughtful and even admirable to share meals and create a sense of equality at the workplace, those gestures alone aren't enough to retain talent. If another company offers a better financial package, most people will choose to leave, regardless of the camaraderie or shared lunches. When that moment comes, the memory of sharing biryani won't be enough to keep them from moving on. That's essentially the message she was trying to convey—loyalty often follows financial security. Gulati made headlines recently, as she revealed she was cheated by her executive assistant. On July 21, 2025, Parul shared a detailed account on her LinkedIn profile about a troubling experience involving her assistant. In her post, she revealed that the assistant, who had been employed with her for the past year and was responsible for managing communications, running errands, and overseeing financial transactions, had been deceiving her. Due to repeated incidents of misconduct, including theft and major violations of trust, Parul made the decision to end the assistant's employment. She explained that she had noticed frequent disappearances of cash and Nish Hair products, which she later discovered in the unauthorized possession of the assistant, identified as Swara Parekh. Parul further disclosed that Swara had gone as far as sharing her credit card information with an external party, breaching confidentiality and professional ethics. This series of events ultimately led Parul to take firm action and publicly address the matter. Parul Gulati: Actress, Businesswoman, and Brand Face Parul Gulati is a multifaceted Indian talent known for her contributions to acting, modeling, and entrepreneurship. Over the years, she has featured in a variety of television series and Punjabi-language films. Beyond her on-screen presence, she has carved a niche for herself in the beauty industry as the founder and CEO of her own hair extension label, Nish Hair. Her television journey saw a notable moment in 2017 when she appeared in the Hindi TV drama P.O.W. - Bandi Yuddh Ke. A year later, in 2018, she played the character inspired by 'Jo March' in Haq Se, a web series that reimagined Louisa May Alcott's classic novel Little Women in an Indian context. That same year, Parul starred in Selection Day, a Netflix original series adapted from Aravind Adiga's 2016 novel. Her role added depth to this sports drama centered on cricket and family dynamics. Around this time, she also joined the cast of Girls Hostel, a digital series produced by The Viral Fever (TVF) under their Girliyapa banner. The show, which aired from 2018 to 2019, gained popularity for its realistic portrayal of women's lives in college hostels. Parul made her television debut in the drama Yeh Pyaar Na Hoga Kam, portraying Bittan, the younger sister of the female lead Leher, who was played by Bollywood actress Yami Gautam. This role marked her entry into the Indian entertainment industry. In addition to her work in films and series, Parul has been the face of several advertising campaigns, lending her image and influence to a range of products. Her brand, Nish Hair, which specializes in 100% human hair extensions, has grown under her leadership and is widely recognized among beauty enthusiasts across India. As per a Money Control report, Nish Hair is worth over Rs 50 crore.
Economic Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Techie begs WFH after father's death, gets cold shoulder from boss: 'Told to return to office after last rites'
Employer Dismisses Request for Remote Work Emotional Dilemma: Family vs. Corporate Pressure Community Comes Together in Support Lack of Legal Protections Exposed A grieving IT professional was left stunned when their request to work remotely following their father's recent passing was flatly turned down by their employer. The employee, who works for a service-based IT company, took to the popular forum Indian Workplace on Reddit to share their distressing techie explained that their father had passed away just a week ago. Prior to his death, they had already taken five days of leave and a week of remote work while the father was hospitalized. At the time of posting, the employee was still completing the traditional post-death ceremonies and rites, a vital part of mourning in many Indian employee had been working in a hybrid capacity on-site at the client's location for the past two months. In light of their father's passing and the fact that their mother was now alone in her hometown, they requested one more month of remote work from the client-side the response they received was curt. The manager asked the employee to 'complete the rituals and proceed,' effectively implying that they should return to the office without delay. Despite trying to set up a call to explain the situation further, the manager ignored the the situation, the employee had earlier informed their payroll company's manager—a person they described as unreliable—who initially promised to intervene but later backed out, instructing them to directly contact the client manager with emotional turmoil and logistical strain, the employee was left to wrestle with a difficult decision. Should they return to work in spite of mourning and questions from relatives? The prospect of traveling back and forth on weekends for rituals and then returning to the office midweek felt physically and emotionally exhausting. They even considered sending a firm email declaring that they would be working remotely until a certain date, but feared the consequences of such a post raised a pressing question that resonated with many: Is it really expected to return to work within days of a parent's death in today's corporate India?The Reddit community quickly rallied behind the grieving employee . One moderator offered unconditional support, encouraging the employee to take as many days off as needed, even at the risk of losing the job. They assured help through resume referrals, HR connections, and Discord networking to find new employment if chimed in with their personal stories. One user shared how after their father passed away, their company not only gave them 7-8 days off without question but even suggested they take more time to recover. Another person revealed how their husband suffered a heart attack and they were forced back into the office just five days later, eventually resigning from their job to become a full-time caregiver. They confessed that in hindsight, it wasn't worth sacrificing personal well-being for corporate expectations and urged the techie to prioritize their emotional thread also highlighted a broader issue—the absence of legally binding bereavement leave in India . While Indian culture places immense importance on post-death rituals, especially in the first month, companies are under no legal obligation to provide time off, leaving employees at the mercy of managerial this case, what the techie hoped would be a time to mourn and support their surviving parent has turned into a painful balancing act between family obligations and a corporate system lacking empathy. The Reddit responses served as a reminder that while some companies and managers do show compassion, many others fail to recognize the human side of their employees—a problem that continues to haunt modern workplaces.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Techie begs WFH after father's death, gets cold shoulder from boss: 'Told to return to office after last rites'
A grieving IT professional was left stunned when their request to work remotely following their father's recent passing was flatly turned down by their employer. The employee, who works for a service-based IT company, took to the popular forum Indian Workplace on Reddit to share their distressing experience. The techie explained that their father had passed away just a week ago. Prior to his death, they had already taken five days of leave and a week of remote work while the father was hospitalized. At the time of posting, the employee was still completing the traditional post-death ceremonies and rites, a vital part of mourning in many Indian cultures. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Operations Management CXO healthcare Finance Project Management Others Technology MCA Data Analytics Product Management Management Degree MBA Data Science Cybersecurity Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Leadership others Public Policy Data Science Design Thinking PGDM Digital Marketing Skills you'll gain: Quality Management & Lean Six Sigma Analytical Tools Supply Chain Management & Strategies Service Operations Management Duration: 10 Months IIM Lucknow IIML Executive Programme in Strategic Operations Management & Supply Chain Analytics Starts on Jan 27, 2024 Get Details Employer Dismisses Request for Remote Work The employee had been working in a hybrid capacity on-site at the client's location for the past two months. In light of their father's passing and the fact that their mother was now alone in her hometown, they requested one more month of remote work from the client-side manager. However, the response they received was curt. The manager asked the employee to 'complete the rituals and proceed,' effectively implying that they should return to the office without delay. Despite trying to set up a call to explain the situation further, the manager ignored the request. Compounding the situation, the employee had earlier informed their payroll company's manager—a person they described as unreliable—who initially promised to intervene but later backed out, instructing them to directly contact the client manager instead. Emotional Dilemma: Family vs. Corporate Pressure Faced with emotional turmoil and logistical strain, the employee was left to wrestle with a difficult decision. Should they return to work in spite of mourning and questions from relatives? The prospect of traveling back and forth on weekends for rituals and then returning to the office midweek felt physically and emotionally exhausting. They even considered sending a firm email declaring that they would be working remotely until a certain date, but feared the consequences of such a move. Their post raised a pressing question that resonated with many: Is it really expected to return to work within days of a parent's death in today's corporate India? Community Comes Together in Support The Reddit community quickly rallied behind the grieving employee . One moderator offered unconditional support, encouraging the employee to take as many days off as needed, even at the risk of losing the job. They assured help through resume referrals, HR connections, and Discord networking to find new employment if necessary. Others chimed in with their personal stories. One user shared how after their father passed away, their company not only gave them 7-8 days off without question but even suggested they take more time to recover. Another person revealed how their husband suffered a heart attack and they were forced back into the office just five days later, eventually resigning from their job to become a full-time caregiver. They confessed that in hindsight, it wasn't worth sacrificing personal well-being for corporate expectations and urged the techie to prioritize their emotional health. Lack of Legal Protections Exposed The thread also highlighted a broader issue—the absence of legally binding bereavement leave in India . While Indian culture places immense importance on post-death rituals, especially in the first month, companies are under no legal obligation to provide time off, leaving employees at the mercy of managerial discretion. In this case, what the techie hoped would be a time to mourn and support their surviving parent has turned into a painful balancing act between family obligations and a corporate system lacking empathy. The Reddit responses served as a reminder that while some companies and managers do show compassion, many others fail to recognize the human side of their employees—a problem that continues to haunt modern workplaces.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Techie is told he will get promoted, but he faces job or health dilemma after doctor's warning
Alarming Health Concerns Reddit Community Responds With Support Health Over Hustle: The Message is Clear A senior software engineer recently opened up about his distressing work experience on the subreddit Indian Workplace, drawing attention to the unspoken pressures many face in the tech industry. According to his post, his employer has mandated that he put in an extra 20 hours each week—on top of his regular job responsibilities—for learning and skill sessions, which are aimed at preparing him for a future technical leadership role, are entirely unpaid and compulsory. The company has made it clear that if he wishes to progress within the organization, completing these additional hours is not employee elaborated that these learning hours stretch across three hours each weekday after work, with weekends also fully occupied. This has left him physically drained and mentally cornered, as he barely finds time to sleep or recover between sessions. What began as a professional opportunity has now turned into a taxing routine, pushing his work-life balance to the brink of makes his situation even more worrying is the toll it has begun to take on his health. He mentioned recent medical consultations where his doctor strongly advised reducing stress due to symptoms related to cardiac strain, including heaviness in his chest. Despite this critical warning, he has refrained from informing his employer, fearing disbelief and further indifference. According to him, the company had already communicated there were no alternatives or accommodations has left him trapped in a situation where his health is deteriorating while he feels powerless to speak up or step away. Although he wishes to resign, the absence of a backup job offer holds him back, further intensifying his anxiety and his post, members of the online community responded with concern and practical advice. One user suggested that he directly request designated self-learning hours during his regular working schedule, implying that expecting employees to sacrifice their personal time for unpaid training is unreasonable. Another questioned the benefits of this extra work—specifically asking whether it would lead to a confirmed promotion or salary employee clarified that no such guarantees had been offered. Instead, the company planned to shift employees into technical lead roles unofficially, expecting them to take on extra responsibilities without any immediate recognition or commenters condemned this approach, stating that expecting 20 unpaid hours per week was not only exploitative but also unethical. One user advised limiting self-learning to a manageable one hour per day at most, and if management still insisted otherwise, to get their demands documented via email for future reference.A common theme echoed through multiple responses: no job is worth compromising one's health. Users urged him to begin searching for new opportunities while continuing to challenge the unrealistic expectations set by his current employer. They emphasized that while jobs may come and go, health cannot be easily restored once short, the online community united to remind him—and others in similar positions—that one's well-being should never be sacrificed for a title or vague promise of career advancement.
Time of India
13-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Man in his 40s lands dream job after two years of struggle. Shares lessons he learned
A professional in his 40s recently shared his hard-fought victory in securing a high-paying job after enduring two relentless years of disappointments, unanswered applications, and misleading recruitment practices. Narrating his experience on the Indian Workplace subreddit, he offered a deeply personal account of how he managed to turn his situation around, despite numerous setbacks that left him disheartened and frustrated. He described his 40s as a bleak phase professionally, filled with rejection emails, deafening silences from recruiters, and missed opportunities. But eventually, after countless failed attempts, a promising job offer came through. He is now in the process of settling into this long-awaited role. Sharing what finally worked for him, he listed practical strategies that helped him stand out in a crowded job market. Making His Presence Known One of the most crucial changes he implemented was actively engaging with his professional community. He didn't just update his resume and wait—he immersed himself in the industry landscape. He became visible in online forums, took part in meaningful discussions in professional groups, and didn't shy away from public speaking. He appeared on industry panels, television segments, and podcasts, seizing every chance to make his presence known. His advice: visibility is invaluable. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dukung Orang Terkasih Menghadapi Limfoma: Mulai Di Sini Limfoma Baca Undo Putting in the Extra Effort He emphasized that he never considered himself exceptionally witty or brilliant but always believed in hard work. Even though his career trajectory had been steady—with consistent promotions and salary increases—he found himself stagnating in recent years. The obstacles weren't of his own making, but he took full responsibility for pushing forward, often working twice as hard to compensate for perceived shortcomings. Reaching Out Directly Instead of waiting for recruiters to notice him, he took the initiative to contact hiring managers or members of their teams directly. According to him, relying on third-party recruiters proved to be an ineffective strategy, so he chose to take ownership of his job hunt by creating one-on-one connections wherever possible. Tailoring Applications Thoughtfully He learned the importance of customizing his resume for each job opening. He ensured that relevant experiences were front and center and removed irrelevant information that didn't serve his current goals. Each job application was approached with the mindset of relevance and clarity. Telling a Compelling Story He advised job seekers to focus not just on skills and experience but also on storytelling. Instead of sounding like a checklist or a robotic narrator of facts, he tried to present his career journey as an engaging and coherent narrative. Whether it was work experience, certifications, or networks, everything was woven together in a way that made sense and left a lasting impression. Avoiding Toxic Environments He also learned to trust his instincts during interviews. In several instances, he walked away from offers that came from environments he considered toxic or conversations that felt unprofessional. He acknowledged that some mediocre individuals had risen to influential positions in his field, particularly in Bengaluru , where work culture had seen significant changes. But rather than settling, he chose to wait for a role that felt aligned with his values. Eventually, that patience paid off. The Strategies That Failed Him Despite his success, he didn't shy away from calling out the broken systems that added to his struggle. First on his list: recruiters. His experience with them was overwhelmingly negative. He recounted pouring his energy and honesty into conversations with dozens of recruitment agents. Each time, they accepted his resume, appeared interested, and then vanished. He said they simply used profiles like his to fill their internal databases while offering no real opportunities in return. Job Portals: A Breeding Ground for Scams Next, he warned against depending on online job platforms. According to him, these sites are riddled with deceptive listings and offer little help for those seeking leadership or mid-senior-level positions. He urged professionals to instead invest in real-world interactions and genuine human connections, pointing back to his earlier point about the power of visibility and storytelling. Although his final successful application went through a major job portal, he credited the result to a personal referral rather than the platform itself. He expressed skepticism about people trying to gain visibility through constant posting on LinkedIn, calling it a platform filled with exaggerated claims and superficial content. He did, however, acknowledge that its job board function occasionally yielded something useful. A Cautionary Tale About Fake Job Listings In an earlier post, he revealed how recruiters had misused his professional details to create fake job alerts. Posing as a hiring manager at his current company, someone used his title—Senior Counsel at a fictional firm called Acme—to circulate misleading hiring alerts to others in the same field. As a result, he was bombarded with calls from confused professionals, some assuming he had left his position. The incident forced him to explain the situation to both his HR department and his wider network. He highlighted that such fake listings were often created to keep recruiters employed and engaged, even when companies weren't actually hiring. These tactics not only mislead job seekers but also damage reputations. He added that companies sometimes post phantom job openings to enhance their brand image or engagement metrics, making it seem like they're growing even when they're not. The Reality of Ghosting and Unrealistic Expectations He concluded by pointing out that in many industries, job descriptions have become catch-all roles that are nearly impossible to fill. Responsibilities meant for multiple departments are often dumped into one job profile, making it difficult for any one individual to qualify. As a result, listings remain active indefinitely, and applicants are routinely ghosted, with only a slim chance—he estimates just 1%—of ever receiving a reply. Final Words of Encouragement Despite all the hurdles, he urged others not to give up. His story was meant to serve as a message of hope: even in your 40s, even after countless letdowns, your breakthrough might be just around the corner. Keep fighting, keep improving, and don't let rejection define your worth.
