U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Monday (August 31, 2026) to hit Iran “hard” after the two foes traded fire for the first time in weeks, as his Treasury secretary vowed to keep up a pressure campaign aimed at hobbling Tehran’s economy. After six months of war
Step inside Mouni Roy’s beautiful 4 BHK apartment in Mumbai featuring minimal décor and a cosy library Published on: Sep 1, 2026, 11:30:03 IST By Anukriti Srivastava Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Mouni Roy gave a house tour of her Mumbai 4 BHK apartment
European traveller says he was scared to visit India due to 'bad image, stereotypes': 'I found more kindness than chaos' Published on: Sep 1, 2026, 10:51:25 IST By Sanya Panwar Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Expecting chaos, he found kindness: Robert says India changed how he judges places
Meta is fixing a loophole that allowed wearers of its AI smart glasses to secretly record others without consent. Meta’s new AI smart glasses feature a white light sensor that starts blinking when the wearer is taking a photo or video through their device
‘Bengaluru Metro discipline deserves appreciation’: Woman praises commuters for orderly queues, offering seatsA woman lauded Bengaluru Metro commuters for disciplined boarding, respectful behaviour and offering seats to women. Published on: Sep 1, 2026
Delhi startup demands employees take 30% pay cut for coworker’s ₹2 crore blunder
‘They want a 30% pay cut’: Delhi startup demands employees pay for coworker’s ₹2 crore blunder
‘They want a 30% pay cut’: Delhi startup demands employees pay for coworker’s ₹2 crore blunder
The employee shared that the founders promised that employees who agree to take a 30% pay cut due to someone else’s mistake will be given ESOPs.
Published on: Jun 02, 2026 6:45 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link A Delhi techie’s bizarre corporate crisis has sparked a massive online debate after their startup demanded an unexpected financial sacrifice. On Reddit, a software engineer revealed that their company suffered a staggering ₹2 crore loss due to a critical testing error committed by a single employee. Instead of holding the individual accountable, management requested written consent from the entire team for a 20-30% pay cut over the next two months to split the cost. The techie turned to the internet to ask if they should refuse, demand equity, or jump ship. An employee asked Reddit for advice on what to do in this situation. (Representative image). (Pexels) “Company asking for a 20-30% pay cut for 2 months due to a ₹2 Crore loss caused by another employee. What should I do?” the individual posted. Also Read: ₹18 LPA in corporate or ₹6 LPA in govt?’: Employee torn between money and stability Explaining the situation, the individual continued, “An employee made a critical testing error that ruined a major order for an MNC brand, costing our startup ₹2 Crore,” adding, “To cover the loss, management wants a cost-sharing split. They are asking employees for written consent for a 20-30% pay cut for the next 2 months, plus appraisals are on hold. In exchange, they are offering either ESOPs or a promise to repay the deducted amount later.” The techie continued that they have years of experience and currently lead a team with over 20 members. Furthermore, they have comfortable savings, which means they can “easily absorb the pay cut without financial stress.” However, the situation has compelled the individual to ask a few tough questions: “Is it normal or legally permissible for a company to penalise an entire team for an individual’s technical mistake?”, “Since they desperately need me to maintain the core tech, should I demand a massive chunk of ESOPs if I agree to the cut?” and “Should I just refuse, let the chips fall where they may, and start interviewing elsewhere immediately?”What did social media say?
The post has prompted varied responses from Reddit users. An individual suggested, “Say ‘Sorry, I cannot afford this at this stage in my life.’ No more explanations needed. Threaten to switch, if you need to.” Another expressed, “You shouldn't. If you permit it now, this will become a culture in the company.” A third posted, “This literally should come out of the founders' and upper management's paycheck, not the regular employees. If you have substantial stock options with the company, then it's understandable, but if not, then they're fleecing you for an issue out of your control.” The OP responded, “The company is currently unfunded, but management claims they will issue the ESOPs once they secure a funding round. According to our CTO, the company's current valuation is around ₹90 to ₹100 Crores, and they are aiming to raise that funding in 2027. I honestly don't know what to do.” Also Read: Professional asks ‘am I insane’ while debating to leave ₹95 lakh job at just 23 A fourth wrote, “Simply deny. Why should anyone else pay for someone else's mistake? When they book a profit, do they pay an extra 20-30% of your salary as profit-sharing? If no, then they have no right to share the loss, and no one should say yes to this bulls**t offer.” (Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Trisha Sengupta Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More Delhi Startup Reddit Get Latest Updates on Trending News Viral News, Video, Photos and Weather Updates of India and around the world Home/Trending/‘They Want A 30% Pay Cut’: Delhi Startup Demands Employees Pay For Coworker’s ₹2 Crore Blunder See LessA Delhi techie’s bizarre corporate crisis has sparked a massive online debate after their startup demanded an unexpected financial sacrifice. On Reddit, a software engineer revealed that their company suffered a staggering ₹2 crore loss due to a critical testing error committed by a single employee. Instead of holding the individual accountable, management requested written consent from the entire team for a 20-30% pay cut over the next two months to split the cost. The techie turned to the internet to ask if they should refuse, demand equity, or jump ship.
“Company asking for a 20-30% pay cut for 2 months due to a ₹2 Crore loss caused by another employee. What should I do?” the individual posted.
Also Read: ₹18 LPA in corporate or ₹6 LPA in govt?’: Employee torn between money and stability
Explaining the situation, the individual continued, “An employee made a critical testing error that ruined a major order for an MNC brand, costing our startup ₹2 Crore,” adding, “To cover the loss, management wants a cost-sharing split. They are asking employees for written consent for a 20-30% pay cut for the next 2 months, plus appraisals are on hold. In exchange, they are offering either ESOPs or a promise to repay the deducted amount later.”
The techie continued that they have years of experience and currently lead a team with over 20 members. Furthermore, they have comfortable savings, which means they can “easily absorb the pay cut without financial stress.”
However, the situation has compelled the individual to ask a few tough questions: “Is it normal or legally permissible for a company to penalise an entire team for an individual’s technical mistake?”, “Since they desperately need me to maintain the core tech, should I demand a massive chunk of ESOPs if I agree to the cut?” and “Should I just refuse, let the chips fall where they may, and start interviewing elsewhere immediately?”
Another expressed, “You shouldn't. If you permit it now, this will become a culture in the company.” A third posted, “This literally should come out of the founders' and upper management's paycheck, not the regular employees. If you have substantial stock options with the company, then it's understandable, but if not, then they're fleecing you for an issue out of your control.” The OP responded, “The company is currently unfunded, but management claims they will issue the ESOPs once they secure a funding round. According to our CTO, the company's current valuation is around ₹90 to ₹100 Crores, and they are aiming to raise that funding in 2027. I honestly don't know what to do.”
Also Read: Professional asks ‘am I insane’ while debating to leave ₹95 lakh job at just 23
A fourth wrote, “Simply deny. Why should anyone else pay for someone else's mistake? When they book a profit, do they pay an extra 20-30% of your salary as profit-sharing? If no, then they have no right to share the loss, and no one should say yes to this bulls**t offer.”
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Remarks on deeptech startup at Startup Mahakumbh last year ‘not necessarily accurate’ 66% Employees Ready To Take Pay Cut For Better Workplace Why I fell in love with a book called I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki Author of I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki dies at 35 Baek Se-hee, Author Of I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki, Passes Away GST rates cut bowing to demands from Congress-ruled states 8,000 Jobs Cut Globally, 7,000 Employees Shifted To AI-Focused Roles Meta plans to cut around 10% of employees in Reality Labs division Congress demands withdrawal of circular asking Haj pilgrims to pay Rs 10 Coco Gauff Demands Better Grand Slam Pay
Manchester City have opened talks with Chelsea in their bid to sign midfielder Enzo Fernandez. In what is set to be one of the key narratives on transfer deadline day, City have set the wheels in motion towards what would be one of the most expensive deals of the summer
27 minutes ago
After 15 years of leading one of the world’s most recognisable technology companies, Tim Cook has officially signed off as Apple CEO. On his final day in the role, August 31, Cook took to X to share a brief but emotional message with the Apple community
27 minutes ago
Badshah and Isha Rikhi divorce: Months after photos from their secret wedding went viral, rapper Badshah and Punjabi actress Isha Rikhi have announced their divorce. The couple shared identical statements on Instagram on August 31, saying they have mutually decided to go their separate ways
27 minutes ago
PM Modi hails ‘herculean feat’, Congress asks ‘where are jobs?’: GDP figures draw mixed responseTaking a jab at his critics, Modi said some people in India, “drowned in an atmosphere of despair”, were spreading “lies” across the country. Published on: Sep 1, 2026
26 minutes ago
Congress leader P Chidambaram has flagged India’s 106th position among 179 countries in V-Dem’s Electoral Democracy Index. India scored 0.38 for 2025, its lowest since 1975, according to V-Dem, which classifies the country as an “electoral autocracy”
27 minutes ago
The company said the move is aimed at strengthening transparency and food quality for consumers, and warned that restaurants failing to comply with its requirements could be removed from the platform. New Delhi: Food delivery platform Zomato on Monday said it has adopted a zero-tolerance policy on
27 minutes ago
On August 21, a three-judge Supreme Court Bench led by the Chief Justice of India dismissed a petition and sought a fresh one in a case on minimum wages in rural employment guarantee programmes. The Bench lauded MGNREGA’s role in rural development
28 minutes ago
As Janmashtami approaches, homes begin to take on a festive glow. Laddu Gopal gets a new outfit, the little cradle is beautifully decorated, flowers are brought in and preparations begin for the midnight celebration. Amid all these preparations
26 minutes ago
The company said Shipsy Brain draws on data linked to more than five billion shipments. This includes more than 50 billion operational events, 1.5 billion automated and human decisions, 100 billion GPS pings and over 5,000 logistics workflows. Enterprise firm on September 1 launched in beta
26 minutes ago
In March 2026, IIT Kharagpur—the oldest Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) that has been training thousands of minds to design bridges, cars, and computer chips for the last 75 years did something unprecedented. It formally applied to the National Medical Commission (NMC) to offer a
28 minutes ago
The price of the 19-kg commercial LPG cylinder has been increased by Rs 9.50, raising costs for restaurants, hotels and other businesses that rely on commercial cooking gas. The revised prices came into effect from September 1, with new rates applicable across major cities
28 minutes ago
A Singaporean diplomat who led the adoption of the UN Ocean Treaty, a Myanmar activist who put his freedom on the line for democracy, and a former Bangladeshi teacher who brought compassion to the poor were named on Monday as the winners of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awards
26 minutes ago
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s care-free, adolescent excellence graced big-ticket First Class cricket, as the 15-year-old made an entertaining 81-ball 92 on day two of East Zone’s Duleep Trophy semifinal versus Central Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here on Monday
29 minutes ago
A woman in Bengaluru has alleged that Rapido drivers have been frequently demanding fares higher than the amount displayed on the app. She shared one such instance in a post on X and questioned whether drivers are unable to see the fare shown to customers before accepting a ride
27 minutes ago
The Union government on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking to quash all first information reports filed in connection with the youth protests in Delhi in July, Bar and Bench reported. The application urged the court to quash the 13 FIRs registered for offences including rioting
27 minutes ago
That paneer tikka you ordered, was it actually made from milk? Zomato’s latest move has put a lesser-known product called analogue paneer under the spotlight. The food delivery platform has asked restaurants to stop using analogue dairy products, but before you label it “fake paneer"
26 minutes ago
The US Supreme Court has ruled that construction of a $400m (£297m) ballroom at the White House can go ahead, in a victory for President Donald Trump. In a 5-4 ruling, the justices granted the Trump administration's emergency request, blocking lower court rulings that would have halted
28 minutes ago
Lionel Messi and Argentina: A story of heartbreak, redemption and finally, everythingWe all knew this day would come sooner or later, but watching Argentina without Lionel Messi in that jersey is something that will take time to sink in. Updated on: Sep 1, 2026
28 minutes ago
The elderly grimace, hobbling on crutches, and wide-eyed children stare, cradling chickens carried from homes they were forced to leave behind. "It feels good to be in my own country," 35-year-old Nazia says, just minutes after she crosses from Pakistan, where she was born, into Afghanistan
27 minutes ago
‘Spite might be greatest incentive’: Bengaluru CEO on employees working weekendsA Bengaluru-based CEO has revealed that his employees are voluntarily working late nights and weekends — not for better incentives, but to spite a rival company Updated on: Sep 1, 2026
3 hours ago
VerSe Innovation has launched SparkStation, an AI-powered content operating system. This new platform promises to significantly reduce production costs and delivery times for brands. SparkStation integrates ideation, scripting, and editing into a single, streamlined workflow
3 hours ago
Tim Cook was happy at Compaq. One meeting with Steve Jobs changed his mindIn a 2014 interview with journalist Charlie Rose, Tim Cook had recalled how he ended up at Apple. Updated on: Sep 1, 2026, 07:54:20 IST By Sanya Jain Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link On Monday
3 hours ago
From Greater Noida to Delhi: 47-km bus ride ends in gang-rape of 16-year-oldThe Class 11 student, who lives in Mainpuri, left home on August 3 without informing her parents, the Delhi Police said. Updated on: Sep 1, 2026, 07:53:15 IST By Hemani Bhandari Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link The
3 hours ago
In August last year, Rafikul Biswas was picked up from his home in Bengaluru, and accused of being an undocumented migrant from Bangladesh. Biswas, who is originally from Nadia district in Bengal, spent four months in a detention centre in the city
3 hours ago
IMDbPro is providing free premium memberships to Indian entertainment professionals. This initiative removes financial barriers for actors, directors, and crew members. Eligible professionals can access career tools and networking opportunities
3 hours ago
Victoria Beckham's fashion and beauty business has made an operating profit for the first time since she founded it in 2008, the company has said. Victoria Beckham Holdings Ltd, which is led by the former Spice Girl as creative director, made an operating profit of £7.3m in 2025, accounts show
3 hours ago
Below normal rain likely in September after warmest August since 1901: IMDThe overall monsoon deficit stood at 14% on August 31, with this expected to increase through September. Updated on: Sep 1, 2026, 07:53:27 IST By Jasjeev Gandhiok, Pallavi Singhal Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link The
3 hours ago
