'Work on Saturday or lose 3 days' salary': Company's rule for AI hackathon triggers debate

According to the company's interbal notice, Those who attended were promised 1.5 days of additional leave. Those who skipped the event would face a deduction of three days’ salary under leave without pay (LWP).

A company’s decision to mandate attendance at a 12-hour AI hackathon on a Saturday, with penalties for employees who opt out, has sparked sharp criticism online after an internal notice was shared on Reddit.

According to the post, employees were informed via an internal mail that attendance at an AI hackathon scheduled from 8 am to 8 pm on Saturday, March 28, was “mandatory”. Those who attended were promised 1.5 days of additional leave. Those who skipped the event would face a deduction of three days’ salary under leave without pay (LWP).

The internal communication, whose identifying details were redacted in the image shared online, framed the event as a “unique opportunity to upskill, innovate, and showcase AI capabilities”. Teams would be formed to work on “real-world AI projects”, lunch would be provided, and prizes would be awarded to top performers. The notice, however, also made the consequences explicit: “If anyone is unable to attend, 3 leaves (LWP) will be deducted from March salary.”

The employee who shared the notice on Reddit sought advice on how to skip attending the hackathon without facing consequences.

"It’s being called 'upskilling,' but feels more like forced weekend work," they said.

‘Upskilling or coercion?’

Reddit users were quick to question whether such deductions were legal. One user described the move as “forced weekend work disguised as learning”, arguing that salary deductions beyond the day of absence could violate the Payment of Wages Act. “They can’t deduct pay for days you actually worked,” the user wrote, urging the original poster to seek advice on legal forums.

Others took a more pragmatic view, warning of possible informal consequences. “If you skip, not only will your three days’ LWP be deducted, you might be first in line during layoffs,” one comment read, adding that many companies do not even offer compensatory leave for weekend events.

Several responses also noted that while attendance was compulsory, participation was not. “Go, sit, eat, chill. Attendance is mandatory. Winning isn’t,” a user advised, pointing out that the mail did not explicitly require productivity.