Employee rages about 'broken Indian corporate culture': 'Was hired without job description, had no manager'

After enduring five mentally and emotionally draining months in a mismanaged and hostile work environment, an Indian employee at a global corporation’s local office finally chose to resign. His experience, shared in the Indian Workplace subreddit, paints a bleak picture of unchecked dysfunction and systemic neglect in Indian branches of international firms.

The employee revealed he was onboarded without being provided a formal job description. From the very beginning, he was left to navigate his role with absolutely no orientation, mentorship, or structural framework. The company failed to assign him a reporting manager, leaving him in a professional void with no one to turn to for direction or clarity. Instead of gradually being introduced to tasks with proper context, he was blindsided with last-minute work, often thrown at him post-4 PM, and expected to deliver polished results by the next day. These tasks came with no proper background, no supporting materials, and no clear objectives.

Despite repeatedly reaching out for guidance and requesting structured workflows, his pleas were either brushed aside or met with hollow assurances. Over time, the lack of support began affecting his emotional well-being. With no sense of control, purpose, or acknowledgment, his confidence deteriorated. The chaotic environment left him feeling isolated, drained, and increasingly disillusioned with the work culture.

What’s more alarming is that his story is far from unique. Many others resonated with his situation, suggesting that this is not a one-off incident but a broader reflection of how Indian corporate setups frequently function. One recurring theme in his post—and in the comments that followed—was the abuse of words like “ownership” and “proactivity.” These terms, often used as cover for an absence of responsibility and managerial accountability, are deployed to push employees into overworking under impossible circumstances.

One commenter pointed out how common it is for Indian managers to impose unrealistic expectations without giving employees time or clarity to understand systems. The so-called empowerment is, in reality, a lack of support camouflaged as freedom.

Many in the thread expressed frustration over this widespread toxic culture, emphasizing that the hustle mindset should not be romanticized. Instead, they urged for genuine reform—workplaces that value structure, transparency, and empathy over burnout, ambiguity, and chaos.