Held Like a Slave, Salary Raised by Just ₹9… Delhi Tech Professional Recounts Woeful Tale

Low Salary Issue: A software engineer from the Delhi-NCR region has revealed that over the span of two years, he received a salary increment of a mere ₹9. The engineer took to Reddit to post about the situation and expose the reality of the company.

Work Culture Crisis: On Monday, employees in Noida Phase 2 (Uttar Pradesh) staged a protest outside a private company, pressing various demands—including salary-related issues—amidst reports of vandalism and stone-pelting. Against this backdrop, a software engineer from Delhi-NCR has expressed his deep dissatisfaction regarding his job. He disclosed that in 2025, his salary saw an increment of just ₹9, and this year, he received absolutely no increment at all. Consequently, he is now contemplating leaving the company.

What Did He Write in His Reddit Post?

In a post on Reddit, he stated, “I am completely fed up with this company and my colleagues.” The engineer lamented that he is working “like a slave”—even on weekends—yet he still feels trapped in his workplace. He explained that he began working as an intern for six months at a “renowned MNC” in May 2024, after which he was offered a permanent position. He noted that his initial annual package was ₹4.25 lakh, but his actual in-hand salary turned out to be significantly lower than expected. He added that he had accepted the offer because the job market was extremely weak at the time he completed his studies.

The tech engineer further revealed that the job came with a two-year service bond, under the terms of which he would be required to pay ₹1.5 lakh if ​​he were to leave the company before the stipulated period ended. Additionally, he mentioned that employees are required to complete a six-month notice period, which further limits their options for quitting the job. He wrote, “I had to join this company because I had no other option left.”

The engineer further claimed that his workload is excessive, comprising not only standard office duties but also visits to client sites for compliance-related tasks. He stated, “I am working like a slave. I have to report to the office, and I also have to visit client locations for compliance purposes.” He added, “The company does not cover any of my commuting expenses; furthermore, whenever I visit the main campus, thousands of rupees are deducted from my salary as a shuttle fee.”

Working on the Same Salary for Two Years — Engineer

This tech engineer revealed that he often works even on weekends, although he is granted compensatory leave in return. However, he feels that his current salary and the treatment he receives are in no way commensurate with the hard work he puts in. The engineer further explained, “I have been working on the same salary for two years. When I attempted to be released from my project, they simply upgraded my grade. My dilemma is that I cannot compromise on the quality of my work—even though I am not being treated fairly at my workplace, whether in terms of compensation, working conditions, or general conduct.”

In conclusion, the engineer remarked, “I feel as though I am trapped in a pit that everyone is exploiting to their advantage. I am genuinely receiving a very low salary; I am unable to save any money and am living a life of constant compromise. I truly want to find a way out of this situation.”