logo
CEO cheers staff for staying after hours to assemble office furniture, calls it ‘culture'. Sparks online outrage

CEO cheers staff for staying after hours to assemble office furniture, calls it ‘culture'. Sparks online outrage

Time of India6 days ago
While the post might have been intended as a cheerful nod to team bonding, it took an unexpected turn after a screenshot was shared on Reddit. (Screenshot: LinkedIn)
Netizens Aren't Buying the 'Culture' Kool-Aid
MORE STORIES FOR YOU

« Back to recommendation stories
I don't want to see these stories because
They are not relevant to me
They disrupt the reading flow
Others
SUBMIT
A seemingly innocuous LinkedIn post by the co-founder and CEO of a Texas-based construction software startup has stirred up a whirlwind of online debate over work culture, voluntariness, and startup ethics. Sharing a snapshot of his team assembling flat-pack furniture late on a Monday night, the CEO described the moment as 'culture,' accompanied by a picture of employees building desks and shelves after hours. 'Beers and pizza included of course,' he added.The caption read: 'Culture – it means many things to many people. I don't think there's a good definition. But when your US team is at the office on a Monday night after-hours, setting up flat packs so we can move in faster, I'd say culture is pretty good.'While the post might have been intended as a cheerful nod to team bonding, it took an unexpected turn after a screenshot was shared on Reddit's forum r/LinkedInLunatics with the biting headline:'Culture is pretty good if people are doing unpaid manual labour.'The sarcastic caption read: 'Beers and pizza definitely makes up for staying after hours and doing manual labour.'The post triggered a flood of criticism from users, questioning whether employees were truly volunteering — or subtly coerced.'If it's not during paid hours, it's not culture. It's unpaid labor,' one Reddit user wrote bluntly. Another added, 'A real company pays a handyman or two to put together the office furniture. They're probably 'pre-revenue'.'Some pointed out the deeper concern — the blurred line between startup enthusiasm and exploitation. One user noted: 'Only makes sense as a founder or similar level of ownership. Otherwise, it's a cult working for free so the owners can get rich faster.'Others, however, argued that not every instance of after-hours work amounts to toxicity. 'I did this for a company I loved working for,' shared one Redditor. 'It was all voluntary and the dinner wasn't beer and pizza — it was a top-notch thank-you meal. I didn't feel taken advantage of.'In the startup world, 'culture' is often worn as a badge of pride — a sign of camaraderie, hustle, and going the extra mile. But as this episode shows, not everyone interprets it the same way. What one founder may call team spirit, others may see as unpaid labour under the guise of belonging.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Audi cuts forecast over US tariffs and restructuring costs
Audi cuts forecast over US tariffs and restructuring costs

Time of India

time19 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Audi cuts forecast over US tariffs and restructuring costs

German automaker Volkswagen's premium brand Audi lowered its full-year financial guidance on Monday, citing the impact of higher U.S. import tariffs and ongoing restructuring costs. The Ingolstadt-based company now expects revenue of between 65 billion euros and 70 billion euros ($76 billion and $82 billion), down from its previous forecast of 67.5 billion euros to 72.5 billion euros. Audi also cut its operating margin forecast to 5 per cent to 7 per cent, compared to the earlier range of 7 per cent to 9 per cent. Audi said it is still assessing the implications of the trade deal reached between the United States and the European Union on Sunday. The agreement set a 15 per cent baseline U.S. tariff on imports from the EU, including cars, which had previously faced customs duties of 27.5 per cent. "Should the 15 per cent tariff stay in place long-term, it would still put Audi at a competitive disadvantage, because its key peers have a more pronounced U.S. production footprint," said Fabio Hoelscher, an analyst from Warburg Research. Audi is among the carmakers most exposed to U.S. tariffs as it has no manufacturing facilities in the United States. Although the deal provides clarity on the new tariff regime, enabling better operational and strategic planning, the 15 per cent rate still represents a structural shift from the 2.5 per cent rate before U.S. President Donald Trump took office, said Pal Skirta, equity analyst from Metzler Equities. That leaves German carmakers facing persistently higher U.S. tariffs on their exports and long-term competitiveness challenges, he said. The Volkswagen Group also cut its full-year guidance on Friday after taking a $1.5-billion tariff hit in the first half of 2025. Global automakers have booked billions of dollars of losses and some issued profit warnings due to U.S. import tariffs. The European industry is also facing stiffening competition from China, and domestic regulations aimed at speeding up the electric-vehicle transition.

Old Metro Cards Out, Singara Chennai Card In: All You Need To Know
Old Metro Cards Out, Singara Chennai Card In: All You Need To Know

News18

time28 minutes ago

  • News18

Old Metro Cards Out, Singara Chennai Card In: All You Need To Know

Last Updated: From 1 August, Chennai Metro commuters must upgrade to the new NCMC-based Singara Chennai Card as top-ups for old cards come to a stop. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has announced that commuters will no longer be able to recharge their old metro smart cards starting 1 August 2025. Instead, the Singara Chennai Card—based on the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) system—will take full charge across all 41 metro stations. Still Have an Old Card? Here's What to Do Once the value drops below Rs 50, commuters must return the old card at any metro ticket counter. In return, they'll receive the Singara Chennai Card free of cost. The remaining balance and security deposit will be automatically transferred to the new card, as per Times Now News. What is the Singara Chennai Card? Launched in April 2023, this smart card is part of a larger national initiative by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. It's designed to make travel easier by working across metros, buses, toll booths, and more—all with one card. It also promotes digital and eco-friendly travel by reducing the need for paper tickets. Is This the End of Paper Tickets? The move to the Singara Chennai Card supports eco-friendly commuting by cutting down paper use and encourages cashless, digital travel. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

TMB eyes home advantage in Thoothukudi's investment wave; to tap MSMEs
TMB eyes home advantage in Thoothukudi's investment wave; to tap MSMEs

Business Standard

timean hour ago

  • Business Standard

TMB eyes home advantage in Thoothukudi's investment wave; to tap MSMEs

Tamilnad Mercantile Bank (TMB) has said that, as a local bank, it is betting big on tapping more salary accounts and the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) segment lending opportunities, as Thoothukudi is witnessing a boom in investments to the tune of over Rs 1 trillion, driven by global majors like Vietnam's electric vehicle maker VinFast and Singapore's Sembcorp. The Thoothukudi-based bank has maintained its business growth outlook of 14 per cent for the current financial year, owing to its growth initiatives in the last year, including technology upgrades. The bank said that its focus area will be the Retail, Agriculture, and MSME (RAM) segment, as it accounts for 93 per cent of its total advances. Including VinFast and Sembcorp, Thoothukudi is expected to witness investments to the tune of Rs 1 trillion in the next few years. The bank's strategy is to attract salary business, in addition to developing a strong footprint in the supplier ecosystem of large players, which mainly includes MSMEs. "Action in Thoothukudi is something that we will certainly try and leverage to our benefit as the hometown bank in Thoothukudi. Not just salary accounts. We are also looking to re-establish our footprint in the MSME area. That is where I see a lot of potential for CASA," said Salee S Nair, managing director and chief executive officer of TMB. He added that the bank has increased its engagement with Thoothukudi port too and has also been enrolled in the National Logistics Portal recently. Nair said that during the second half of the financial year, the bank will start reaping benefits from initiatives like establishing MSME hubs, expanding its branch network, and improving technology, among others. After Nair took charge in August 2024, the bank roped in global consultancy firm McKinsey to develop its MSME strategy, mainly to bring in innovative solutions and improved lending capabilities. Its transformation initiatives also include the revamping of CRM systems, upgrading internet banking, and giving more focus to the gold loans portfolio. 'We expect the second half of the current fiscal to show the impact of all our initiatives. We may see over 10 per cent growth in deposits and 15 per cent growth in advances,' he said. The bank posted its highest-ever quarterly net profit of Rs 304.9 crore during the first quarter of the financial year 2025-26, up 6 per cent from Rs 287.3 crore during the April to June quarter of the last financial year. "We will look at corporates seriously after we put in place a system, both in terms of skill set and technology improvement," he added. At present, the corporate segment contributes to around 7 per cent of its advances. The bank's gross non-performing assets (NPA) improved by 22 basis points to 1.22 per cent from 1.44 per cent. Its net NPA also decreased to 0.33 per cent from 0.65 per cent, improving by 32 basis points during the first quarter of FY26. TMB's deposits increased to Rs 53,803 crore during the period, from Rs 49,188 crore last year. The advance level also increased to Rs 45,120 crore with a growth rate of 10.44 per cent on a year-on-year basis. The bank said that an increase of 4.5 per cent in CASA during the quarter is a positive sign. Nair mentioned that the bank is putting a lot of effort into improving its CASA. This includes appointing relationship managers to attract more current accounts and setting up an elite services group in Q1 to ensure personalised end-to-end service in select branches for high-value customers.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store