Man quits on Day 1 after manager calls work-life balance 'Western Behaviour': Shares this resignation letter online

A product designer’s post on Reddit has sparked debate on work-life balance once again. In the post, the individual narrated how he resigned from his job on the first day as the manager pressured him to “work beyond normal hours without any compensation”. He also stated that the manager dismissed and mocked him for talking about “work-life balance”, calling it a "fancy term" and "western developed nation behavior."
The individual says that he joined the company as an Associate Product Designer with a package of Rs 7 LPA which is “below fair median pay”.Being one of the co-founders of an AI startup, he accepted the offer to support it financially as the job offered “remote setup flexibility”.
“At the end of my first day (October 7th), my reporting manager made it clear that he expected unreasonable commitments—work beyond normal hours without any compensation,” he said in the post.
“I understand that startups sometimes require extra hours—I’ve done that myself as a co-founder. But there’s a difference between going the extra mile for your own project out of passion and being coerced into it in a professional setting with an established, profitable company.” the user further added.
The user sent a resignation letter to the company and manager.

Hello Mr.
I hope this message finds you well.
After reflecting on recent events that unfolded on my first day of work, I must convey that our professional alignment does not seem to match. Specifically, I find your approach toward work expectations and personal boundaries seriously concerning.
You have repeatedly made remarks about my activities outside of work hours, which I believe is highly inappropriate and unprofessional. What I choose to do in my personal time-whether it is exercising, spending time with family, sleeping, or READING BOOKS-is my prerogative and should not be subject to criticism.
Ridiculing the concept of work-life balance and calling it a "fancy term" and "western-developed behavior" for someone of 24 years is dismissive, TOXIC, and uncalled for.
Moreover, your insistence on submitting work within 48 hours, outside of normal working hours, without compensation for overtime, coupled with demands to "burn the midnight oil" in a threatening manner is unreasonable, inhumane, and inconsiderate. I must remind you that the company LACKS any policy on overtime pay, even after I asked your HR about it, who reassured me that there would be no need for it, and everyone is expected to work within normal work hours (45 hours a week). Expecting work without fair compensation undermines both legal standards and the respect that every employee deserves.
These remarks and expectations are especially concerning given the increasing national attention on toxic work culture, which has sparked important discussions about employee well-being and workplace ethics. It's disappointing to encounter such behavior in light of these developments.
Lastly, your behavior during our last interaction, particularly scolding me, was unacceptable. I will not tolerate being subjected to such treatment.
Given these points, I believe it would be best for you to find another person who is willing to meet your expectations in the manner you desire. I hope you understand my decision, as I prioritize both professionalism and respect in my work relationships.
If you believe that your conduct in these situations is defensible and humane, I welcome and challenge you to make any slack recordings of our conversations public. Let others judge the professionalism and appropriateness of both your expectations and behavior.
Given these circumstances, I have decided it is best to part ways. I suggest finding someone whose approach aligns with your demands.
Sincerely.

Here’s the full text of his Reddit post
Hey everyone, I wanted to share my today's experience of quitting my job on the very first day and standing up to a toxic boss.
Background
My friends and I co-founded a startup right out of college in September 2022. Our goal was to level the playing field for retail investors by addressing three core problems:
Lack of time
Limited expertise
The grunt work
We aimed to solve these issues with AI and algorithms that could automate data gathering, analysis, and simplify complex financial information. Think of it as an "Auto/Co-Pilot" for portfolio management, not just another trading tool. This was before AI became the buzzword it is today.
As a part of our B.Tech CSE program, we were also introduced to finance, investments, and markets through structured courses. In the midst of lockdown having extra time on our hands , our finance professors Encouraged us to invest to learn in the markets and so we did. It was tough for us, as learning about the basics of market fundamentals and tracking them was not easy. We realized that many existing tools speak a financial language that's not familiar to most people, and we felt the need for something simpler.
By the time we graduated, we often wondered how we could manage a full-time job while keeping up with the markets. We couldn’t find a tool that really saved time and simplified things. That’s when we saw an opportunity to create one ourselves.
I worked full-time on product design and operations for our startup while my co-founder balanced a day job to support us financially.
We reached the finals of the Elevate Karnataka Startup Funding Competition, competing against over 800 startups. Although we didn’t secure funding, we understood the government's priority to support ventures in green and clean technologies, even if they aren't always financially viable and they believed we could raise funds externally, because of a good decent college IIITK. Our team included interns, and we shared equity among everyone involved. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints and the departure of key team members for higher studies, the project is currently paused. However, we haven’t given up; we just need more time and financial stability to get things moving again.
With that in mind, I began looking for a job. The interview for this position happened back in August. After completing two lengthy assignments (80+ hours of work, one of which I later found out was directly related to their product), they finally got back to me at the end of September. The offered salary was well below average, but I accepted it because it was a remote position that would allow me to focus on my startup after hours and on weekends.
However, things quickly took a turn for the worse on my first day.
The Incident
At the end of my first day (October 7th), my reporting manager made it clear that he expected unreasonable commitments—work beyond normal hours without any compensation. When I tried to establish boundaries, he mocked me for talking about "work-life balance," calling it a "fancy term" and "western developed nation behavior." He also ridiculed my desire for time to read and exercise, dismissing it as an excuse.
I understand that startups sometimes require extra hours—I’ve done that myself as a co-founder. But there’s a difference between going the extra mile for your own project out of passion and being coerced into it in a professional setting with an established, profitable company.
Why I Shared This
I’ve seen too many people endure such toxic environments without speaking up, and I want to remind everyone that it’s okay to leave a bad situation, even on day one. Toxic work culture isn’t worth compromising your health and self-respect.
If anyone here can refer me to a UI/UX role (Ill share profiles in the DMs :) ) or provide feedback on my work, I’d greatly appreciate it.
I promise to deliver high-quality work to anyone who gives me the opportunity. Thank you all for taking the time to read this. Stay strong, and remember—your well-being matters.