Ankur Sachdeva, originally from Madhya Pradesh, made the difficult decision to resign from his position at one of Australia’s prominent 'Big Four' banks. His departure stemmed from what he described as a highly demanding and 'toxic' work environment, primarily driven by his Indian manager's expectations that encroached significantly on his personal life, especially after the birth of his child.
Excessive Demands and After-Hours Work
Sachdeva, who moved to Australia in 2022 for better career prospects, found himself frequently contacted by his manager outside of official working hours. He recounted instances where tasks were labeled 'urgent' and expected to be completed the same day, often requiring him to work late into the night. He even claimed he was made to perform his manager's own duties, all under the guise of immediate necessity.
“He would call me even after office hours and say, ‘This is urgent — you need to finish it today.’ He would also make me do his own work, and almost everything was marked as ‘urgent,’ with the expectation that it had to be completed the very same day,” Sachdeva stated.
Prioritizing Family Life Over Toxic Workplace
The situation became particularly untenable for Sachdeva following the birth of his newborn. He realized the relentless demands were preventing him from spending crucial time with his family. “I had reached a point where I could barely spend any time with my family, and I especially wanted to be there for my newborn,” he explained.
Despite the challenges of Australia's competitive job market at the time, Sachdeva prioritized his family's well-being over the high-pressure banking role. After a period of searching, he successfully secured a position with the Australian government, a move he described as rewarding and offering a much-needed work-life balance.
Social Media Sparks Wider Debate
Sachdeva shared his experience in a video, which quickly went viral and ignited a broader conversation on social media. Many users chimed in with similar stories of demanding or 'toxic' Indian managers in various countries, including Australia and across Europe. Conversely, others shared positive experiences, highlighting that workplace culture can vary greatly.
The discussion underscored a persistent debate about workplace boundaries and the extent to which employees should be expected to commit to tasks outside of their official working hours. For Ankur Sachdeva, the answer became clear when those demands began to overshadow his ability to be present for his family.