In Bengaluru, Karnataka, a 25-year-old woman, a Product Experience Manager at a top startup, walked away from a nightmare job to save her mental health. She faced relentless verbal abuse—scathing public criticism and humiliating taunts—paired with grueling workloads and impossible deadlines that sparked daily panic attacks. Her entire team, battered by the same toxic culture, also quit, unable to endure the mental strain. Online, others shared chilling tales of similar harassment: managers’ aggressive outbursts, suffocating pressure, and unreachable targets that led to burnout, anxiety, sleepless nights, and skipped meals.
Bengaluru’s high-octane startup scene often ignores mental health, breeding environments where harassment and overwork crush spirits, especially for women facing disproportionate hostility. With 55% of Indian workers reporting workplace harassment, the cost is steep—depression, exhaustion, and lost productivity. Mental health is vital in such high-pressure settings, where burnout triggers physical tolls like insomnia. The Sexual Harassment Act, 2013, falls short for mental harassment, demanding urgent reforms like counseling and robust grievance systems.
Her daring escape, now fueling fiery online debates, exposes the dark side of startup culture. Her story rallies Bengaluru’s workforce, particularly women, to reject toxic workplaces and fight for dignity and mental well-being.
