A nostalgic video featuring Ashneer Grover has surfaced on social media, sparking conversations about toxic workplace cultures. In this footage, the former judge of Shark Tank India elaborates on his reasons for leaving Ernst & Young (EY) after only one day, despite the attractive ₹1 crore salary.
The video has quickly gained attention, especially following the recent tragic death of an EY employee, which stirred controversy after her mother accused the firm of fostering a toxic and high-pressure work environment.
Ashneer Grover, an Indian entrepreneur, co-founded and served as managing director of BharatPe, a leading fintech company launched in 2018. He also became well-known as an investor on the reality show ‘Shark Tank India’.
Grover recounts that he began his journey at Ernst and Young (EY) with a remarkable salary of ₹1 crore. However, on his first day, after assessing the office atmosphere, he pretended to experience chest pain as a strategic way to leave early.
The BharatPe co-founder explained that he made this choice because he found the office environment excessively dull and filled with what he described as “Zinda lash (living corpses).”
It’s baffling to see anyone advocate for a toxic environment. #AnnaPerayil
Your views? pic.twitter.com/QhPnCeKhxq— Harsh Goenka (@hvgoenka) September 19, 2024
He asserts that a toxic work environment is actually where productivity thrives. He elaborates that the perfect office is characterized by conflict, suggesting that if anyone describes an office as having a toxic culture, it’s actually the most effective setting. He strongly believes that this is the only atmosphere conducive to genuine work.
Billionaire Harsh Goenka joined the discussion to take aim at the former BharatPe CEO, accusing him of endorsing a “toxic work culture.”
“It’s baffling to see anyone advocate for a toxic environment. Your views?” Goenka wrote and included the hashtag #AnnaPerayil, a trending hashtag.
Here are some of the comments appeared below the post.
“People who have already made huge money have moral rights to talk sense and nonsense both on public platform, rest can ignore and focus on their goals.”
“how can we think of good environment in corproate when legends like @Infosys top head advicates for 70 hours a week ? does he ever thought that others have family too. how will they give 70 hours in week to company. after retirement u can say anythng bcoz u dnt need to do thaT,”
“Ashneer is a person who will say right thing also in toxic way & fail it. “Full calm” at office means “No Kaam” …Yes you may even get 1cr+, but this calm is as suffocating as toxic office.
Doers love building with vibrant team of passionate builders on challenging tasks,” says another comment.
