When “work from home” suddenly becomes “work from wherever your boss decides,” what happens? In spite of the company’s official work-from-home policy, a Bengaluru techie’s terrifying story has gone viral online after she claimed that her manager forced her to travel more than 300 kilometers to get to work.
Netizens are incensed about the demand’s strange justification, which has sparked a heated discussion on employee rights, toxic office cultures, and the hazy boundaries of remote work in India’s software industry.
Manager’s Weekly Office Demand Sparks Tension
I have a WFH, but my Manager keep asking me to come to office for team building
byu/Content_Bass_6851 indevelopersIndia
The employee clarified that for the previous year, his department had been operating under an indefinite work-from-home policy. The majority of the staff only occasionally travel to Bengaluru, even though the company’s headquarters are located there, either for necessary meetings or other occasions.
The person disclosed that he lives around 300 kilometers from the city and usually visits the office once every two months, mostly for important team meetings or leadership talks.
His manager, however, has lately begun pressuring him to make in-person appearances once a week, citing the need to preserve workplace culture and foster teamwork. He claims that by using that example to put pressure on the other team members, the supervisor has already convinced three other coworkers, including one who lives even further away, to comply.
He added that his manager had requested that he visit the office once a week for cultural events and team-building exercises. “I’ve told him several times that it’s not practical for me to travel this frequently, but he’s not backing off,” the employee stated. “Our relationship is deteriorating daily, and it is beginning to cause friction between us.”
The employee claimed that his manager has remained firm, causing friction and increasing tension between them despite his repeated explanations that frequent travel would be exhausting and impractical. The friendly working relationship that once existed has suddenly grown more tense. The employee stated that he is considering taking the matter to higher management, but he is afraid that doing so will harm his relationships with coworkers or his reputation inside the organization.
Users Blast Managers For Hypocrisy Over WFH Rules
The Reddit community responded strongly to the message. A user asked why so many Indian bosses behave in this manner and suggested researching their reasons. Another commenter made the observation that since promotions and performance reviews are frequently linked to teams switching from remote to on-site work, many managers encourage in-office attendance.
“Yes, this could affect your relationship with the team,” one user commented. “If you don’t want to get closer, you should escalate. Alternatively, change teams. I’ve worked with managers who are Indian, American, Australian, and European. While Americans view their position as having obligations, many Indian managers feel entitled to it. Europeans are completely different from Australians, who are calmer.”
“I think it’s a generation issue,” wrote another Redditor, offering a generational viewpoint. “These issues won’t arise when Gen Z takes up managerial roles.”
Another user described a similar situation, claiming that their own team leader worked remotely but would not grant their subordinates the same freedom, even requiring medical certifications for requests to work from home owing to health issues.
Manager’s 300 Km Demand Sparks Outrage
The story of the Bengaluru techie has connected with many workers in India who still battle with the same issues in the post-pandemic workplace culture. For many, what started out as a call for cooperation has evolved into a justification for dominance and micromanagement.
Employees are left wondering if “work from home” is a real perk or merely a myth, as businesses promote flexibility while enforcing strict regulations. In a time when technology has rendered distance irrelevant, but attitudes are still lagging behind, the episode serves as a wake-up call for corporate India to reassess what workplace trust and empathy actually mean.
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