He was a star employee until he clicked on a LinkedIn option

An Indian professional took to Reddit’s r/IndianWorkplace forum to recount an unsettling experience at work after subtly signaling on LinkedIn that they were open to new job opportunities. According to their post, the trouble began when their foreign manager—commonly referred to as “Firangi” in Indian slang—noticed the change in their profile, which allegedly triggered a wave of unfair treatment.

The employee, who survived two intense company-wide restructuring phases within just over a year, shared that the workforce had shrunk from 50 to only 7 people by the time the second round concluded. Despite staying on during both transitions, things reportedly took a sharp turn when they quietly activated the 'Open to Work' feature on LinkedIn. Since their manager routinely connects with new employees on their first day, the user had no choice but to accept the request and suspects that the boss saw the updated status through this connection.

Following this, the manager allegedly began singling them out. Complaints were made that they weren’t working a full nine-hour day simply because they clocked in and out on time without exceeding expectations.

Additionally, the employee claimed their salary was consistently credited two days later than everyone else’s, and their work output was examined with extreme scrutiny. This shift in behavior was a stark contrast to earlier days when the manager was reportedly very trusting, shared internal updates, and treated them with notable warmth.

The story struck a chord with fellow Redditors. Several users encouraged the employee to block their manager on LinkedIn and continue the job hunt discreetly. Others shared that broadcasting job-seeking intentions can sometimes backfire, reducing the likelihood of securing interviews. One commenter advised that while it’s unfortunate, the best approach would be to maintain strong performance at the current job, remain composed under pressure, and avoid giving the manager any grounds for criticism until a better opportunity is secured. The overall sentiment echoed the need for caution and resilience while navigating toxic workplace dynamics during a job search.