Viral video shows alleged Byju's employee in heated argument with seniors over pay

Byju's is yet to recover from its crisis, but the company's struggles have been hard on the employees as well. In the latest, a video is going viral on social media of a purported Byju's employee losing her cool against her senior colleagues over alleged non-payment of incentives and pay. 

In the video, a female employee is seen engaged in a heated argument with her seniors in front of her other colleagues, as another films the altercation. The seniors are also seen asking the employee to air her concerns privately, which she initially refuses to do as she claims to have complained several times in vain. 

So this is how they treat employee.
This is ridiculous 🤬

@BYJUS @ByjusSupport @LinkedIn #byjus #Harrassed #employee #Jobs pic.twitter.com/YioX0SGTxx

— 😝 (@panautiAJ) July 21, 2023

The woman is also heard saying that she received only Rs 2,000 as part of her final settlement even after working for some 12 months. While the entire issue isn't clear from the video, the argument is seemingly regarding incentive-related matters. 

DailyO has not been able to independently verify the authenticity of the video. 

Reactions

• Several people on Twitter reacted to the video in comments pointing out the toxic work culture persisting at several start-up companies including at Byju's. 
• One Twitter user commented that most IT companies in India exploit their employees by forcing them to work long hours, with minimum breaks and don't even give any bonuses or incentives. 

Most of the IT company in India force employee to work more than 9 hours
Force them to work without any breaks or minimum breaks
Don't give bonuses and good leave policies
Also force to work on sat sun sometimes without any incentives

I don't know y central gvt not taking actn.

— Stan Tweet's (@StanTweets7) July 22, 2023

• Another Twitter user claiming to be a Byju's employee said that many are under immense pressure due to the lack of job security. 

I am also an employee working for the main product of the company(online education) & we're under so immense pressure that it has become so difficult to teach under utter zero job security now.

— Happy K (@utsavm97) July 23, 2023

• Others said that it is better to look for another job instead of burning bridges. 

When a company doesn't treat you well, escalate to the highest level with proper documentation through mail asking for resolution within a finite timeline and even then if no one responds, walk out , not worth the time and energy.
No point burning bridges with anyone.

— Shajan Samuel (@IamShajanSamuel) July 24, 2023

Byju's town hall

• Byju's has been accused of holding back incentives and variable pay of employees for several months as it struggles with a massive debt repayment and other regulatory issues. 
• There have also been several rounds of layoffs at the company. 
• However, in an emergency town hall meeting on July 22, Byju's promised to remit variable pay and other incentives that were held back and also said that they wouldn't be laying off any employee from Byju's Tuition Centre (BTC). 
• Reports said that the unplanned town hall meeting was scheduled to evade protests by BTC employees planned for July 25. However, Byju's spokesperson refuted the claims. 

On the other hand, the Edtech firm has temporarily agreed to a debt restructuring plan with its US lenders over the $1.2 billion Term B loan.

If Byju's and its lenders agree to new terms and conditions on the loan, the Edtech firm will likely get relief from the creditors demanding hefty interest repayment. Lawsuits in the US against Byju's and the lenders are also likely to be resolved. 

[ALSO READ: Insecurity, long hours, false promises: A Byju's ex-employee spills the beans on its toxic work culture]