Delhi CA denies Rs 1,000 raise to domestic help, turns incident into 'corporate lesson'. Internet reacts

While Meenal Goel intended the post to serve as career advice, it ignited fierce criticism.

A LinkedIn post by a Delhi-based chartered accountant, Meenal Goel, has sparked widespread criticism after she shared three “corporate lessons” she claimed to have learned from her maid’s resignation. The post detailed how her maid quit after being denied a requested pay rise from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per month.

Goel described her maid’s parting words: “Call only when you are ready to pay me Rs 3,000.” She then outlined what she termed as three takeaways from the incident, presenting them as valuable lessons for navigating the corporate world.

In her post, Goel shared:

Don’t be afraid to ask for a raise:  Goel reflected on her maid’s assertiveness, contrasting it with how employees often hesitate to demand higher pay. “My boss will laugh me off if I do. If I have the luck, I will get the raise. I am putting in the hard work, I am sure bosses will do justice,” she wrote, before adding, “Sorry, no! Never leave your personal growth in the hands of fate, God, or other humans. You should take charge of your growth.”

Never discredit your efforts:  Goel criticised self-doubt in professional evaluations, encouraging confidence in one’s abilities. “Why do you rate yourself low in year-end self-evaluations? Why do you tell colleagues you’re not good at something? People believe what you make them believe,” she said, concluding the point with a call to “exhibit self-confidence.”

Don’t settle for less: Drawing on her six years of corporate experience, Goel recounted hearing promises such as, “Next year we will promote you,” or, “This is the best we can offer for your role.” She advised against accepting such compromises, stating, “Don’t settle for less. Take charge of your growth.”

While Goel intended the post to serve as career advice, it ignited fierce criticism, with many accusing her of “glorifying the exploitation of domestic workers.” Users pointed out the disparity between white-collar workers’ demands for higher wages and better work-life balance and their treatment of workers in the unorganised sector.

One LinkedIn user commented, “Only on LinkedIn will you find such entitled people giving corporate lessons after exploiting their house help to the extent of making them resign.”

Another wrote, “Glad the maid walked out of bonded labour.”

A third added, “Hey, how about you stop exploiting workers next time? That could be a corporate lesson for you.”

The debate extended to broader discussions about the mistreatment of domestic workers, particularly in urban centres like Delhi. Many argued that Goel’s post reflected a troubling hypocrisy in how professionals advocate for fair treatment in the workplace while neglecting the rights of those in their homes.

Amidst the backlash, some users defended Goel, praising her message. “Your insights are truly inspiring,” one commenter wrote. “It’s a powerful reminder that we must advocate for ourselves and never underestimate our worth in the corporate world.”