Indian company bars employees from using LinkedIn and ‘open to work’ badge, viral Reddit post sparks debate

A viral Reddit post claimed that an Indian company has barred its employees from using LinkedIn.

A controversial workplace rule has sparked a heated debate online after a Reddit post claimed that a company had restricted employees from using LinkedIn freely, including barring them from engaging with posts by other organisations or enabling the platform’s “open to work” feature. The post, which quickly went viral, drew sharp criticism from users who described the move as excessive control disguised as professionalism.

Sharing the experience anonymously on Reddit, the user said employees had been explicitly instructed not to like, comment on or engage with LinkedIn posts from any other company, whether competitors, clients or even celebratory posts. The company had also discouraged staff from using the “open to work” badge, citing reasons such as maintaining professionalism and protecting the company’s image. The employee pointed out that LinkedIn is a public platform and that such activity takes place outside office hours, making the directive unreasonable.

Employer policing LinkedIn activity -no likes, no comments, no “Open to Work”. Normal? byu/Agreeable-Cook5296 inIndianWorkplace

Questioning whether this was normal, the user asked if such restrictions were common in Indian workplaces, particularly in manufacturing or plant-based companies. While the users understood limits around sharing confidential information, they argued that policing likes and comments felt unnecessary and controlling, wondering aloud whether it stemmed from insecurity rather than genuine professional concerns.

The post struck a chord with many Reddit users, who were quick to criticise the company’s stance. Several commenters said employers have no authority over employees’ personal social media activity outside work hours, as long as confidential information is not shared or the company’s reputation is not actively harmed. One user remarked that such behaviour was typical of organisations that demand loyalty without offering meaningful pay, job security or long-term benefits.

Others warned that such policies could be a red flag. One commenter argued that unless explicitly stated in an employment contract, such rules cannot be enforced. They suggested that micromanaging trivial actions like liking a LinkedIn post often signals a toxic work culture and may be used later to accuse employees of “insubordination” during layoffs or disciplinary action.