'Welcome to Hell': Bengaluru Chef Claims Luxury Hotel Punished Latecomers with 2-Hour Hands-Up Stand

The tragic death of a 26-year-old EY India employee, allegedly due to work-related stress, has ignited a national discussion about toxic workplace environments in India. Workers from various industries are now sharing personal stories about companies that glorify excessive overtime and foster harmful cultures.

In an interview with The Nod magazine, Bengaluru-based chef and nutrition coach, Nayantara Menon Bagla, recounted her harrowing experience working at a luxury hotel. The hotel, which remained unnamed, allegedly enforced punitive measures for tardiness, including making employees stand with their arms raised for two hours and clean refrigerators with bare hands.

Bagla described the hostile conditions, stating that the hotel required employees to work shifts lasting 18 to 20 hours, with no time off even during personal emergencies. “Welcome to hell,” Bagla recalled the programme director saying during her induction. “There were work shifts of 18-20 hours, seniors taking advantage of young folks, and constant sexual innuendoes,” she added.

The chef also claimed that the hotel normalized extreme overtime while reinforcing outdated gender norms, including pressuring women to lose weight and be subservient in the kitchen. Employees who arrived late were subjected to humiliating punishments.

Several other professionals have spoken out following the death of Anna Sebastian, an EY employee whose long hours allegedly contributed to her demise. One former EY worker revealed that 18-hour shifts were a regular occurrence at the consulting firm, further fueling the ongoing debate about toxic corporate cultures in India.