Indian Company Forces Employees to Fund Their Own Diwali Celebration: Workplace Ethics Questioned

Employees at an Indian company were initially excited about their annual Diwali celebration until they received an unexpected WhatsApp message that dampened their festive spirits. Contrary to their expectations that the company would cover the expenses, they were shocked to discover they needed to contribute financially to the event.

A Reddit user expressed their frustration, sharing, "Imagine asking money from your employees to give a boring party, and the venue is bad too," along with a screenshot of the WhatsApp conversation.

The sequence began with instructions for employees to return to their workstations, followed by details about the mandatory Diwali celebration contributions.

According to the message, attendance at the Diwali party was compulsory for all managers and team members. Team leaders were instructed to collect Rs 1,200 from each team member and Rs 2,000 from those in lead positions. Another notification emphasized, "Everyone has to give 1200 per person for the same."

In an attempt to make the required contribution seem more appealing, the announcement included "Booze on the house."

This situation has sparked considerable online debate, with many questioning the practice of mandatory attendance at such events.

One commenter asked, "Why is it mandatory to attend? Shouldn't that be a choice? What will happen if someone skips it and doesn't pay anything?"

Another person responded critically, "BOOZE ON THE HOUSE? After collecting 1200 INR? If you can, please shame the company in public. We will definitely avoid them & post reviews on Glassdoor on your behalf."

Someone else pointed out the contradiction: "How is it booze on the house, if they are taking contributions?"

Another comment noted, "'Back to your seats' and 'everyone has to give' gives a strong boarding school vibes."

Recently, the Department of Finance issued directives to all government departments, ministries, and public sector organizations, including Central public sector enterprises, public sector banks, and financial institutions, prohibiting expenditure on gifts or related items for Diwali or other festivals.