'The irony': Mental health startup employee claims company fired her for liking 'toxic workplace' post

A former employee of a mental health startup has come forward on Reddit, alleging she was dismissed for engaging with a LinkedIn post highlighting toxic workplace environments. Her story has gained traction, particularly due to the irony of being fired from a company focused on mental well-being for an action related to workplace toxicity.

In her detailed Reddit post, the ex-employee described the stressful environment she faced at the startup. She claimed that both her manager and the CEO fostered an atmosphere that negatively impacted her mental health. According to her, the situation became so severe that she would often retreat to the office restroom to cry, overwhelmed by the toxic work culture.

The post read, "Toxic manager, weird rules and dynamics. The manager made my life a living hell. She would act oblivious when speaking with the CEO, who was also toxic. Their behaviour affected me so much that those around me noticed. I was let go because I liked a post on LinkedIn discussing toxic workplaces. I found it relatable, but my CEO accused me of spreading false information and fired me.”

Fired for liking a post on LinkedIn
byu/ashiean inIndianWorkplace

The Reddit post quickly sparked a significant online discussion, with users expressing outrage and disbelief that a mental health organisation could allegedly exhibit such toxic behaviour. One user commented, "Mental health startup. So ironic that it is rusting," while another wrote, "They proved they are toxic by firing you."

This incident also raised broader questions about how some companies, especially those focused on mental health, may fail to uphold the very values they advocate for. Many online users pointed out the apparent contradiction in the startup’s actions, with one commenter noting, "A blessing in disguise, but I can only imagine what else would have happened had you tried to quit."