Bengaluru Startup Sparks Outrage After Job Post Mandates 12-Hour Workdays
GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 22nd Nov: A new storm has hit India’s already heated debate on long working hours—this time emerging from the country’s startup capital. Days after Infosys founder Narayana Murthy’s remark encouraging young Indians to work 72 hours a week sparked national discussion, a Bengaluru-based AI startup has triggered backlash for its controversial hiring terms.
Dodge AI, co-founded by entrepreneur Aditya Thakur, is facing intense criticism on social media after a hiring post circulated online revealed that interns and full-time engineers would be required to work 12 hours a day, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., six days a week — on-site. The announcement quickly went viral, igniting widespread anger among job seekers and working professionals.
In the now-debated LinkedIn post, Thakur highlighted the company’s vision to build “AGI for ERP” and described Dodge AI as Tier-1 VC-backed, claiming it already has live projects with Fortune 500 companies. He further positioned the roles as ideal for individuals who want to “build with real users, solve deep technical challenges, and shape the future of how enterprises run.”
The post listed openings for Founding Engineers and interns. While the compensation impressed many—₹1 lakh per month stipend for interns and a ₹30–60 lakh annual CTC for full-time engineers with 1–2 years of experience—the praise ended there. The mandatory on-site 12-hour schedule in Bengaluru’s HSR Layout quickly became the centre of conversation.
Social media users slammed the post, calling it a reflection of an unhealthy work culture. One user commented,
“The 11am–11pm, 6-day requirement reflects a larger issue in the Indian startup culture. While other countries move toward 4-day weeks for better productivity, we are still glamorising burnout.”
Another wrote,
“Perks look great until someone sees the 11am–11pm part. When exactly are employees expected to live their life, go to the gym or rest?”
The controversy has reopened the discussion on work-life balance, a subject receiving global attention as employees demand healthier professional environments. Many online users connected this debate to Narayana Murthy’s recent endorsement of a 72-hour work week, comparing it to China’s widely criticised “996 work culture”—working 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week.
Experts note that while competitive work culture has long been part of India’s startup ecosystem, growing awareness about mental health and employee well-being is challenging outdated notions equating long hours with productivity.
As criticism continues to mount, Dodge AI has not yet issued an official clarification. However, the incident has sparked wider questions about whether India’s booming tech sector will adopt healthier work standards—or continue normalising burnout in the race for innovation.
