Bhupendra Vishwakarma, a Pune-based engineer, made waves in the corporate world after publicly sharing the reasons behind his decision to leave his job at Infosys without securing another job offer. In a candid and revealing post on LinkedIn, Bhupendra outlined six primary reasons for resigning, despite being the sole breadwinner for his family. His post garnered significant attention and sparked a broader conversation about employee well-being, growth opportunities, and recognition in India's burgeoning corporate sector, particularly within the IT industry.
Throughout his post, Bhupendra didn't shy away from calling out what he perceived as systemic flaws within Infosys. He stated that the issues he faced were not unique to him and reflected a broader, deeper culture within corporate workplaces, where employees often face significant challenges that go unaddressed. Bhupendra’s decision to leave, despite the financial uncertainty that comes with being the primary provider for a family, resonated with many workers who feel trapped in similar toxic environments where their hard work goes unnoticed, their growth is stunted, and their well-being is compromised for the sake of profit and business efficiency.
One of the key issues Bhupendra raised was the lack of financial growth despite his consistent efforts and performance. After working diligently for three years, Bhupendra received a promotion from System Engineer to Senior System Engineer. However, this promotion came with no accompanying salary hike, despite his continuous contributions to the team. Bhupendra expressed frustration at the lack of acknowledgment for his hard work and dedication. "For three years, I worked hard, met expectations, and contributed to the team, yet saw no financial acknowledgment of my efforts," he said. This lack of recognition in the form of salary increments despite promotions led Bhupendra to feel undervalued and demotivated. The expectation of growth within an organization was shattered by the absence of tangible rewards for his commitment.
Another key point Bhupendra brought up was the unfair redistribution of workload. When his team was downsized from 50 members to just 30, the additional work was not redistributed in a fair or equitable manner. The workload simply piled up on the remaining employees, without new hires or additional support being brought in. Bhupendra noted that instead of addressing the issue by hiring more staff or providing additional resources, management opted to overburden the remaining team members without providing any compensation or recognition. "Instead of hiring replacements or providing support, the management took the easy route—overburdening the existing team without compensation or even recognition," he said. This created an environment of overwork and burnout, leading Bhupendra to reconsider his future at the company.
The third issue that pushed Bhupendra to make the difficult decision to resign was the stagnation in his career prospects. Bhupendra was assigned to a loss-making account, which directly affected his chances for salary hikes and career advancement. His manager even admitted that the account was in the red, making it clear that there were no opportunities for career growth or salary increments within that specific account. Bhupendra’s work felt like a dead-end, with no upward mobility in sight. He felt trapped in a situation where his professional growth was being hindered by factors beyond his control. "The account I was assigned to was a loss-making one, as admitted by my manager. This directly impacts salary hikes and opportunities for career growth," Bhupendra explained. As a result, staying in that position felt like stagnation, and he began to question whether his career would ever progress if he remained in such an environment.
Bhupendra also pointed out the toxic client environment that contributed to the escalating stress within the company. He explained that clients often had unrealistic expectations, demanding immediate responses and quick resolutions. This created a high-pressure environment that trickled down through the hierarchy, leading to constant escalations over minor issues. Bhupendra described the experience as "constant firefighting," with little room for employees to focus on their own well-being. He said, "This pressure trickled down, creating stress at every level of the hierarchy. It felt like a constant state of firefighting, with no room for personal well-being." This toxic atmosphere of unrelenting pressure had a detrimental effect on Bhupendra's mental and physical health, making it impossible for him to maintain a work-life balance.
The issue of lack of recognition was another major factor in Bhupendra's decision to leave Infosys. Despite receiving praise from colleagues and senior leaders, Bhupendra found that his efforts were not translated into any tangible benefits such as salary hikes, promotions, or career advancement. He felt that his hard work was being exploited without any corresponding rewards. Bhupendra’s frustration with this system grew as he saw others receiving recognition for their work, while his contributions were overlooked. This sense of being undervalued and unappreciated led him to question the organization’s commitment to employee development and well-being.
Finally, Bhupendra raised the issue of regional bias within the company, particularly regarding onsite opportunities. He claimed that onsite roles were not awarded based on merit, but rather on linguistic preferences. Employees who spoke languages such as Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam were often prioritized for such roles, while Hindi-speaking employees like Bhupendra were overlooked, despite their performance. Bhupendra described this as a blatant form of discrimination and demoralization. "Onsite opportunities were never based on merit but rather on linguistic preferences. Employees speaking Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam were frequently prioritised for such roles, while Hindi-speaking employees like me were overlooked, regardless of our performance," he said. This added another layer of frustration, as Bhupendra felt that he was being unfairly sidelined due to factors beyond his control, such as his language skills, rather than his professional abilities.
In his conclusion, Bhupendra emphasized that the issues he raised were not isolated to his own experience but were indicative of broader systemic problems that many employees face in corporate India. "These issues aren’t unique to me—they reflect the experiences of countless employees who feel voiceless in the face of such systemic failures," he wrote. Bhupendra made it clear that his decision to resign was not taken lightly but was the result of an ongoing struggle to maintain his self-respect and mental health in an organization that failed to address these basic issues. His decision to walk away, despite the financial risks, was a statement about the importance of prioritizing one’s well-being and mental health over job security in a toxic work environment.
Bhupendra’s viral post sparked an important conversation about corporate culture, employee well-being, and the need for fair and equitable growth opportunities within India’s IT sector. The post generated a flood of responses, with many users sharing their own experiences of feeling overworked, underappreciated, and stuck in stagnant roles. While some users defended Infosys’s client demands and pointed out that most clients are reasonable when expectations are properly managed, many agreed with Bhupendra’s critique of the company's systemic issues.
In addition to the support, there were some differing views. A few users questioned Bhupendra's perspective on client demands, arguing that most clients are reasonable when proper communication is maintained. They also suggested that Bhupendra's decision to resign might have been premature, particularly given the tough job market. "None of this should compel you to resign. Understand that in such a tough market scenario, many are facing it - Infosys delayed hikes for all, lakhs are suffering despite 70 hours of work a week," one user remarked.
Bhupendra’s post has triggered a much-needed conversation about the realities of corporate work, especially in India’s booming IT sector. As companies like Infosys continue to expand and recruit talent, it becomes increasingly important for them to address these systemic issues, create a healthier work culture, and provide opportunities for employees to grow and thrive. In the end, Bhupendra's decision to speak out has highlighted the importance of self-respect and mental health in the workplace, and his post serves as a reminder to both employees and employers about the significance of fair treatment and recognition in building a successful and sustainable work environment.
