Latest news with #RuchiParashar
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Punishment for missing targets: Employee shares video of being made to hold ears and run stairs
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. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Inside Operation Tupac: Pakistan's secret project to burn Kashmir Who is Asim Munir, the Zia-style general shaping Pakistan's faith-driven military revival 'Looking for partners, not preachers': India's strong message for EU amid LoC tensions 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Rates Undo 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.
News18
05-05-2025
- News18
Gurgaon Employee Alleges ‘Staircase Punishment', CEO Denies Claims
Last Updated: The Hike Education CEO insisted that the video was recorded during a 'voluntary, informal team-fun activity.' A former employee of a Gurgaon-based company recently dropped a bombshell LinkedIn post, claiming that he was forced to climb stairs as a form of punishment after failing to meet a sales target. Piyush Kumar, who resigned from Hike Education last month, accused the organisation of 'repeated mental harassment, defamation, and professional humiliation". He especially mentioned company manager Ruchi Parashar, who allegedly made him take 50 rounds of the stairs as punishment. He also attached a video of the incident to his LinkedIn post as evidence. 'Every day, I was pressured to deliver a specific number of admissions. One day, I was forced to sign a note stating that if I failed to meet the target, I would take 50 rounds of the stairs as punishment. Unfortunately, I couldn't achieve the numbers that day. Despite apologising sincerely, I was forced to catch my ears and take multiple rounds of stairs, over and over again, in front of other colleagues," Kumar shared. After his post went viral, raising questions about the work culture at Hike Education, the company CEO, Rahul Sharma, denied all those allegations in an interview with Instead, he accused the ex-employee of planning a smear campaign against the organisation following his failed attempt to extort Rs 3.6 lakhs. Sharma, the husband of Ruchi Parashar, also said that she started receiving online threats after Kumar made the revelation on LinkedIn. 'Mr Kumar's claims are false, malicious, and constitute a calculated attempt to damage the professional and personal reputations of myself, my wife, Ms Ruchi Parashar, and the organisation as a whole," Sharma told the outlet. The Hike Education CEO further insisted that the video was recorded during a 'voluntary, informal team-fun activity". 'It clearly shows Mr. Kumar actively participating, smiling, and enjoying the session—without any indication of coercion, discomfort, or objection," he added. Meanwhile, Kumar, in an interaction with Hindustan Times, shared that the controversial event unfolded on April 4, and only two days later, he opted to resign. He also said that the number of rounds was reduced to 10, but it was enough to make him feel humiliated. 'They forced one employee to record the video, and when I mailed them and told them I would take action, they forced that employee to sign a paper saying that the videos were made as part of fun activities," Kumar recalled. Besides accusing Kumar of 'extortion", Sharma claimed that they had received formal complaints of sexual misconduct against the employee from several female colleagues. The company tried to solve those issues according to its internal POSH policies. First Published: May 05, 2025, 17:11 IST
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Gurgaon CEO denies employee's ‘stair punishment' claim, alleges smear campaign over ₹3.6 lakh
A former employee of a Gurgaon-based edtech platform took to LinkedIn on Friday to claim he was made to climb stairs as punishment for not meeting sales targets. Piyush Kumar, 24, said he resigned from Hike Education last month over 'repeated mental harassment, defamation, and professional humiliation.' He accused company manager Ruchi Parashar of 'relentless mental harassment,' also sharing a video that shows him climbing a staircase while holding his ears. However, Hike Education CEO Rahul Sharma has denied these allegations in a statement to claiming that Kumar has orchestrated a smear campaign against the company after a failed bid to extort ₹3.6 lakhs. Sharma, who is married to Ruchi Parashar, also said that she has been receiving threats since Kumar went public with his false claims. In his LinkedIn post, Piyush Kumar said that Hike Education manager Ruchi Parashar harassed and humiliated him repeatedly. 'Every day, I was pressured to deliver a specific number of admissions. One day, I was forced to sign a note stating that if I failed to meet the target, I would take 50 rounds of the stairs as punishment,' he said. 'Unfortunately, I couldn't achieve the numbers that day. Despite apologizing sincerely, I was forced to catch my ears and take multiple rounds of stairs, over and over again—in front of other colleagues,' Kumar wrote. In a conversation with that took place over WhatsApp, Kumar also said the number of rounds was reduced to 10, but he felt humiliated. The incident took place on April 4, and he resigned two days later. He shared a copy of his resignation letter with where he claimed that Parashar's actions created a hostile work environment and urged the HR department to launch an investigation into the incident. 'They forced one employee to record the video and when I mailed them and told them I would take action, they forced that employee to sign a paper saying that the videos were made as part of fun activities,' Kumar told Rahul Sharma, CEO of Hike Education, dismissed Kumar's claims as baseless, calling them an attempt to extort the company out of ₹3.6 lakh. He said that the video which shows Kumar holding his ears was taken outside office premises and was part of a fun team activity rather than a punishment. He also claimed that multiple women employees had come forward with allegations of harassment against the ex-employee. 'Mr. Kumar's claims are false, malicious, and constitute a calculated attempt to damage the professional and personal reputations of myself, my wife Ms. Ruchi Parashar (Manager at Hike Education), and the organization as a whole,' Sharma told 'The video being exploited online was captured during a voluntary, informal team-fun activity. It clearly shows Mr. Kumar actively participating, smiling, and enjoying the session—without any indication of coercion, discomfort, or objection. His attempt to mischaracterize the event is clearly retaliatory in nature, arising only after his unethical demand of INR 3.6 lakhs was rightfully refused by the company,' he added. Piyush Kumar told that after he sent the email to management, the CEO asked him if he would consider a settlement. Kumar demanded 12 months of salary and an apology from Ruchi Parashar to settle the matter. 'But then they never replied for this,' he told The CEO of Hike Education said that his wife Ruchi Parashar has been receiving threats since Kumar's LinkedIn post went viral. He also claimed that several women had raised allegations against Kumar of inappropriate behaviour, which the company tried to solve in line with POSH policies. He said that Kumar even admitted to the misconduct and promised not to repeat it. 'Importantly, in April 2025, we had already received complaints from multiple female employees regarding Mr. Kumar's inappropriate and troubling conduct. As a responsible employer, we first attempted to address the matter through internal resolution mechanisms in line with our company's POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) policy. Additionally, we also sought the involvement of the local police authorities to amicably and lawfully manage the issue without escalating matters. 'Following these actions, Mr. Kumar admitted to his misconduct and provided a written assurance that he would refrain from further inappropriate behavior, including any act of blackmail or publishing falsehoods against the company or its employees,' said Sharma. You can read the full statement below: This statement is issued to categorically refute and strongly condemn the baseless and defamatory allegations being circulated on LinkedIn by a former employee, Mr. Piyush Kumar. Mr. Kumar's claims are false, malicious, and constitute a calculated attempt to damage the professional and personal reputations of myself, my wife Ms. Ruchi Parashar (Manager at Hike Education), and the organization as a whole. The video being exploited online was captured during a voluntary, informal team-fun activity. It clearly shows Mr. Kumar actively participating, smiling, and enjoying the session—without any indication of coercion, discomfort, or objection. His attempt to mischaracterize the event is clearly retaliatory in nature, arising only after his unethical demand of INR 3.6 lakhs was rightfully refused by the company. Importantly, in April 2025, we had already received complaints from multiple female employees regarding Mr. Kumar's inappropriate and troubling conduct. As a responsible employer, we first attempted to address the matter through internal resolution mechanisms in line with our company's POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) policy. Additionally, we also sought the involvement of the local police authorities to amicably and lawfully manage the issue without escalating matters. Following these actions, Mr. Kumar admitted to his misconduct and provided a written assurance that he would refrain from further inappropriate behavior, including any act of blackmail or publishing falsehoods against the company or its employees. However, in May 2025, Mr. Kumar willfully violated this undertaking by publishing a fabricated and malicious post online, clearly aimed at discrediting the company and shielding himself from legal accountability. We possess conclusive evidence—including emails, chat logs, and signed statements—that have already been submitted to the concerned authorities and LinkedIn for legal action. As a direct consequence of this orchestrated smear campaign, Ms. Ruchi Parashar is now receiving threats and sexually explicit messages from anonymous individuals, creating serious concerns for her safety and psychological well-being. Her reputation, painstakingly built over the years, has been unfairly tarnished due to this deliberate misuse of digital platforms. Hike Education maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward any form of harassment, discrimination, or unprofessional conduct. We are a law-abiding, ethically run organization with a clean record. These false accusations are a blatant abuse of media platforms and legal protections, weaponized by one disgruntled individual for personal gain. We have already initiated formal police complaints and legal proceedings are actively underway. Furthermore, any individual or platform that promotes, republishes, or enables the spread of these unverified defamatory claims will be made a party to the ongoing proceedings, under relevant provisions of the law. We call upon the media, public, and all digital platforms to act responsibly. Verify facts before amplifying one-sided narratives. Do not allow justice to be derailed by manipulation and digital mob trials. We remain committed to the truth, to protecting our people, and to upholding the values and dignity of Hike Education. Rahul Sharma Chief Executive Officer Hike Education
