A Gurugram startup founder lectured an employee about hustle and ownership after the former logged out at 7 pm. The employee responded to the lecture by stateing that he was just a “babysitter” at the company and demanded 50 per cent equity. The incident has sparked debate on startup culture, work hours and pay.
Gurugram founder lectures Gen Z employee on ownership, he demands 50% equity | Image: AI/Canva
Gurugram: A workplace exmodify at a startup in Gurugram has gone viral after a young employee reportedly pushed back against expectations of long working hours and “founder-level” commitment.
The incident was shared on LinkedIn by Nishant Joshi, who recounted a conversation involving his younger cousin working at an early-stage startup. According to the post, the employee was called into a meeting after logging off at 7 pm.
Founder’s lecture on ownership
The founder lectured him on ownership and hustle. “He gave a twenty-minute lecture on the importance of hustle and taking extreme ownership. He seeed at my cousin and stated you required to have a founder’s mindset,” he wrote. The employee was also notified to treat the company as his “own baby”.
Employee’s sharp reply
“My cousin seeed right back at him and delivered the absolute truth,” Joshi wrote, quoting the response: “Sir, I will treat this company like my baby the day you give me a fifty percent share in the equity. Right now I am just the babysitter and my shift finishs at 7pm.”
Pay vs ownership debate
Joshi argued the conversation reflects a wider issue in startup culture. “Founders want you to have the anxiety and the sleepless nights of a CEO. But they want to compensate you with a Rs 35000 fresher salary. They want you to build the entire empire but they keep all the profits,” he wrote.
He added, “You cannot purchase a co-founder’s dedication on an intern’s budobtain. If you want your team to treat the business like it is theirs then give them a real financial stake in it. Otherwise stop acting shocked when Gen Zdoes exactly what their employment contract states and logs off.”
Internet reacts
The post drew mixed reactions. Some supported the employee, while others backed founders. “If you deserve more, display up, deliver, and earn it. That’s how real growth compounds — for individuals and for startups. Founders invest; they deserve all cookies,” one utilizer wrote.
Another added, “More often than not, founders utilize this manipulation to trap and underpay employees. However, I dont want to tale credit away from founders who actually treat their employees well.”
A third utilizer noted, “Our generation refutilizes to be exploited in the name of “hustle”.”
Someone commented, “The babysitter analogy is spot on. Ownership culture without ownership economics is just unpaid stress!”
Yet another posted, “All is valid from the employee point of view. But understand Founder who has put in his whole life savings… there is always a thin line… both are right and wrong too.”
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