UK colleagues intervene as Indian employee exposes manager's toxic behaviour, highlighting clash of work cultures

A Reddit post by a 2000-born employee has gone viral, drawing attention to alleged toxic practices at a UK-based company. According to the post, the employee’s team was previously led by a German manager, under whom the workplace culture was reportedly more flexible. Two years ago, an Indian manager, referred to as “A,” took over the team, introducing a series of strict rules and policies that many employees found restrictive.

The employee described new mandates such as notifying the team about breaks in Microsoft Teams and a limit of two 30-minute breaks per day. Stand-up meetings, which previously lasted under an hour, reportedly extended to three hours daily, leaving team members feeling “suffocated.”

Clashing work cultures and generational expectationsThe employee, primarily working with UK colleagues, noted that these changes created tension, but they were less affected due to remote collaboration with the UK team. However, colleagues who directly reported to the manager faced significant pressure and discomfort.

“This kind of micromanagement wouldn’t fly with the UK HR,” the Reddit user wrote, highlighting the contrast between local workplace norms and the new management style. Workplace experts suggest such conflicts are common in multinational organisations, especially when managerial expectations clash with team norms and generational work preferences .
The incident that sparked the viral postThe post details a recent incident where the employee, on scheduled leave, received multiple WhatsApp calls from the manager requesting participation in a project call. This marked the first time the manager directly involved themselves in the employee’s project work.

During the call, UK colleagues intervened, questioning the manager’s actions. One team member escalated the situation to the German director, who instructed the employee to leave the call and shut their laptop. The Reddit post claimed that the manager accused the employee of trying to “manipulate people and destroy his image,” while the employee described feeling satisfied for exposing what they perceived as toxic behaviour .
Social media as a platform for workplace accountabilityThe Reddit post quickly gained traction, with thousands of comments from users sharing similar experiences and discussing workplace micromanagement. Experts in organisational psychology say social media is increasingly becoming a tool for employees to hold managers accountable, particularly in multinational environments where HR oversight may not be consistent across regions.

Workplace experts say that differences in work styles, cultural expectations, and remote collaboration are creating new challenges for global teams. Younger employees, particularly those from Gen Z , are increasingly unwilling to accept restrictive policies and are more likely to speak up when they feel management oversteps boundaries.
Implications for multinational companiesThe incident underscores the need for multinational companies to align managerial practices with local norms and employee expectations. Clear HR policies, open communication, and cultural sensitivity are critical to prevent burnout and dissatisfaction.

As workplace dynamics evolve, particularly with younger generations entering the workforce, companies may need to reassess how managerial authority is exercised across different regions to maintain a healthy, productive work environment.
The bottom lineThe viral Reddit post has ignited a larger conversation about workplace culture, managerial accountability, and generational differences in corporate environments. While the company has not publicly commented on the case, the story highlights the growing role of social media in exposing workplace toxicity and advocating for employee rights.