‘We Want Hike’ chants at HCL’s 50th anniversary event go viral

A video from HCL Group’s 50th anniversary celebrations in Chennai has gone viral after a section of employees was heard chanting “We want hike” as CEO C Vijayakumar walked onto the stage. The clip has sparked widespread discussion on social media about employee compensation, workplace culture and the appropriateness of raising salary concerns during a corporate celebration.

The incident took place during a private event organised exclusively for HCL employees as part of the company’s golden jubilee celebrations. The Chennai event was one of several programmes being held across cities to mark the company’s 50-year milestone and featured a live musical performance.

In the viral video, a large image of the CEO appears on the venue’s screen before Vijayakumar enters the stage to applause. Shortly after, a group of employees begin chanting “We want hike”, with the slogan growing louder as he greets the audience.

The video was first shared on X, where users claimed the chant began as the CEO made his appearance. The clip has since been widely circulated across social media platforms, attracting thousands of views and reactions.

The incident has divided opinion online. Some users criticised the employees, saying a commemorative event was not the right platform to raise demands related to salary increments. Others argued that the chants reflected employee dissatisfaction and suggested that public forums may be one of the few ways workers feel they can make their concerns heard.

The episode has reignited conversations around employee expectations, pay growth and workplace engagement, particularly as organisations continue balancing business performance with workforce demands. HCL Technologies has not publicly commented on the viral video or the incident.