A screenshot of a company email has taken the internet by storm after being shared on Reddit’s r/StartUpIndia—and the reason is as shocking as it is absurd. The now-viral post shows an alleged email from a startup founder informing employees that their salary would “not be credited today”, calling it not a delay but a “patience-building initiative.”
The email, with the sender’s identity blurred in the screenshot, immediately raised eyebrows online. The founder allegedly wrote:
“Salary won’t be credited today. We’re not calling it a delay anymore, it’s a patience-building initiative. Remember, growth doesn’t only happen in revenue; it also happens in waiting. Thank you for your continued meditation on payroll timelines. We’re not just a startup. We’re a movement.”
What is happening?
byu/npatyal inStartUpIndia
The post exploded on Reddit, gaining thousands of views and more than 2,500 upvotes within hours. While many users questioned its authenticity, others claimed it felt too relatable to be fake. One Redditor commented, “It does look like a joke, but I got a similar mail 5 days back, so I think it might be real.”
Internet Reacts: Jokes, Sarcasm, and Corporate Trauma
The email’s unusually philosophical tone triggered a flood of sarcastic and humorous comments. Many users rewrote the message to mock the company’s choice of words.
One user joked, “Can the team next month send an email saying ‘Feature won’t be delivered today. Growth happens in the waiting’?”
Another wrote, “Target won’t be completed today. We’re not calling it delay anymore. It’s a patience-building initiative.”
A third added, “Did the founder think all employees would love to see this? I bet the entire team would be calling each other to laugh about it.”
Authentic or Not, the Post Struck a Nerve
While some Redditors insisted the screenshot must be fake, the discussion revealed a deeper frustration among startup employees who often deal with payment uncertainty, chaotic work cultures, and glorified hustle narratives.
The post became a conversation starter on:
- toxic workplace positivity
- glorification of struggle in startups
- founders using “culture” to justify real-world problems
- the lack of salary security in early-stage companies
Regardless of authenticity, the viral email perfectly captured the mood of many employees dealing with delayed salaries wrapped in “motivational” messaging.
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