'Sit on floor if...' to no liquid soap restroom: Employee claims PhD manager has turned office into school

An employee recently expressed deep frustration on the subreddit Indian Workplace, sharing how their start-up environment feels more like a classroom than a professional office. According to the post, the individual’s manager, a former college professor with a PhD but no corporate background, has transformed the workplace into something resembling her past teaching environment.

An Overbearing Style of Management

The employee explained that their manager often behaves in ways that embarrass the team in front of outsiders. For instance, during an online meeting with a client, she suddenly entered the room, noticed the cluttered desk filled with cables, notebooks, and papers, and demanded that the team either clean it immediately or sit on the floor. Unfortunately, the client overheard the remark and laughed, leaving the team feeling humiliated.

Odd Approaches to Cost-Cutting

The manager also insists on implementing unusual measures to save money. When the company CEO suggested replacing the shared bar of soap in the restroom with liquid handwash to maintain hygiene, the manager refused, saying the bar was sufficient. Similarly, when HR proposed buying sturdy office chairs in the ₹5,000–₹7,000 range, she insisted on cheaper alternatives from a store she knew. These chairs broke down within months, leaving employees stuck with faulty seating.

Even celebrations weren’t spared from her thriftiness. After a major project was completed, the CEO proposed taking the team to a hotel for a celebratory lunch. She objected, saying travel and cost would be unnecessary, and instead arranged for her brother to prepare food. The gesture, though cheaper, felt inappropriate for a professional achievement.

Innovation Sessions That Drain Energy

Every Saturday, the manager organizes a mandatory one-hour “Innovation Session.” If someone skips, their name is recorded, and they are automatically assigned to lead the next week. Ironically, these sessions have little to do with innovation. Employees often present trivial topics, such as calculating numbers in various languages, and since the sessions are held immediately after lunch, most people struggle to stay awake. The overall exercise feels forced and unproductive.

Leadership Concerns Ignored

When the team raised their concerns with the CEO, he dismissed them, saying the manager was older and more experienced than him, and therefore he could not ask her to alter her approach. The employee suspects that the CEO may actually be encouraging her to run the office in this rigid style.

Plans to Address Issues Directly

Frustrated and considering leaving the company, the employee mentioned they plan to confront the manager politely to share their concerns directly. The post was largely a way to vent, but it also reflected the employee’s decision to take some action before moving on.

Redditors Share Their Views

The story drew sharp reactions from other Reddit users. Some criticized the CEO, calling him spineless for failing to correct the situation. Others noted that the manager seemed stuck in her academic mindset, treating employees like students instead of colleagues. One commenter added that they had faced similar behavior from PhDs who often tried to showcase long working hours, avoided teamwork, and discouraged knowledge sharing by forcing others to figure things out independently.