Reddit Post On Toxic Bengaluru Startup CEO Sparks Outrage: 'Complete Breakdown... Still Dealing With Trauma'

In recent months, Reddit has emerged as a popular space for employees to voice their workplace frustrations and share their personal struggles on the job.

A number of subreddits now serve as safe havens where workers post anonymously, connect with others, and discuss toxic work environments.

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One such post recently caught attention after an employee detailed a harrowing experience with a toxic boss.

Titled 'I had a complete breakdown during a work video call because my CEO kept screaming - still dealing with the trauma', the original poster (OP) described months of sustained psychological harassment at the hands of a CEO.

"Survived 7 months of relentless psychological harassment at a Bengaluru startup where the non-tech CEO micromanaged everything, imposed unrealistic deadlines, and yelled constantly. Finally suffered a complete breakdown so severe during a Google Meet that I collapsed breathless and was rushed to the hospital. Company and HR continued their vindictive behavior even after I resigned," the Redditor wrote.

According to the post, the individual joined a small events discovery startup in Bengaluru in 2024 as a Junior Data Scientist, initially hopeful that the position would offer valuable learning opportunities.

However, he claims he was subjected to months of "psychological torture" by the CEO, who fancied himself "some kind of data science mastermind" despite having no technical qualifications.

"He'd (the CEO) create these completely unrealistic deadlines from thin air, change project requirements whenever he felt like it, and then lose his complete mind when reality didn't match his delusions," the employee wrote.

He added: "Every. Single. Day. This chap demanded I explain every minute detail of my work directly to him. If my explanation wasn't flawless, or if he couldn't understand something technical, he would completely explode. I'm talking about full-scale screaming sessions where he'd destroy me both professionally and personally."

The employee further alleged that the CEO appeared to single him out due to his reserved nature and physical appearance.

"I believe he specifically targeted me because I'm quiet and physically thin," he wrote, adding that the CEO also ignored standard reporting structures by bypassing his direct manager to deal with him directly.

"For seven consecutive months, I worked 12-14-hour days. Weekends included. I took exactly TWO sick days the entire period. Not once did he acknowledge this commitment. It was always criticism, always fault-finding, always something I was supposedly doing incorrectly," he explained.

Eventually, the relentless pressure became unbearable, and the employee tendered his resignation. However, the worst episode occurred a week later during an online meeting, when the CEO once again launched a verbal tirade.

"The verbal attack was so brutal that I literally couldn't breathe properly. My chest started tightening, I began struggling for air, and I completely collapsed in my chair," he recalled.

Fortunately, his mother overheard the commotion and rushed him to hospital.

But even after his resignation, the mistreatment allegedly continued. "Even after resigning, the torture continued. The HR department handled by a single person was equally malicious. She had the audacity to frame my medical emergency as some kind of charity they were providing by paying my final settlement...She actually claimed that providing my experience letter was a 'gracious gesture' on their part. Like they were performing charity by fulfilling basic legal requirements," he added.

Concluding his post, the OP explained his reason for speaking out: to offer solidarity to others facing similar trauma.

"To anyone currently trapped in a similar nightmare: your mental health is infinitely more important than any salary. Trust your instincts. If someone consistently makes you feel worthless, the issue is with them, not you," he wrote.