A recent case highlighted an alarming toxic culture at the HDFC Bank. A former employee, Nitika Kumari, working as a CDD analyst, at HSBC’s Global Service Centre in Hyderabad, made several shocking revelations about the work culture as her tenure at the company nears its end.
In a LinkedIn post, Kumari has spoken out about severe workplace toxicity and ethnic harassment. She detailed her troubling experiences, criticising the company’s environment and HR policies. She endured numerous distressing incidents over the past year, initially dismissing them as typical corporate challenges. However, these issues escalated, severely impacting her mental health and causing panic attacks.
One particularly troubling incident involved a colleague telling her, “Ek chamaat maarenge, Bihar pahuch jaogi” (One slap and you’ll reach Bihar). Despite repeatedly reaching out to HR and filing a POSH (Prevention of Sexual Harassment) complaint, no action was taken.
Kumari also recounted an incident of character-shaming when a colleague approached her during a smoke break and accused her of ruining the team’s reputation.
Toxic work environments are prevalent in many companies, particularly in firms where professionals aspire to build their careers. Employees often face expectations to work late hours without additional compensation. They are not respected or appreciated but are ignored, bullied and harassed. Many workers feel compelled to remain silent about these issues to keep their jobs, and are struggling to balance work and personal life.
Her allegations highlight significant problems within the company’s culture that need to be addressed and rectified. Her story underscores the urgent need for Indian companies to take workplace toxicity seriously and implement effective measures to ensure a respectful and supportive work environment.
