A startup founder’s social media post is going viral. The claim: a newly hired employee ghosted the company right after onboarding – and took its laptop along. The reason, the founder says, was a job offer worth Rs 25,000 more elsewhere.
The post has ignited a debate online. Users are arguing about professional ethics, hiring practices and what the job market has come to.
What happened
According to the founder, the candidate served a three-month notice period. Three days before joining, they asked for a last-minute hike of Rs 50,000. The company agreed, to avoid a last-minute withdrawal.
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The candidate then completed onboarding. They collected the company-issued laptop. They requested work from home for personal reasons. The next day, they stopped responding to calls, emails and messages.
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When the company finally made contact, the candidate cited personal reasons and asked the company to collect its laptop. The device came back only after a legal threat. The founder alleges the candidate had joined another firm for Rs 25,000 more than the revised package.
The founder’s frustration
After waiting three months, the company had to restart hiring from scratch. In the post, the founder said he hoped artificial intelligence would eventually replace such candidates.
What the debate says
Most users did not criticise the job switch. They criticised the silence. Candidates have every right to take a better offer, several said – but they should communicate honestly instead of disappearing.
Others pushed back on the “mere Rs 25,000” framing. For many people, that amount is significant. One user noted that companies also revoke offers and leave candidates stranded, making this a two-sided problem.
Some even suggested a platform like Glassdoor where employers could document candidate behaviour.
Why this resonates
The story hits a nerve because both sides of the Indian job market feel burned. Candidates fear offers being cancelled. Employers fear last-minute exits. Notice periods stretch to months, and trust is thin on both ends.
Ghosting is never the answer – whichever side does it. A short, honest message costs nothing. It is the one tool both employers and candidates can always afford.