CEO cheers staff for staying after hours to assemble office furniture, calls it ‘culture’. Sparks online outrage

A seemingly innocuous LinkedIn post by the co-founder and CEO of a Texas-based construction software startup has stirred up a whirlwind of online debate over work culture, voluntariness, and startup ethics. Sharing a snapshot of his team assembling flat-pack furniture late on a Monday night, the CEO described the moment as “culture,” accompanied by a picture of employees building desks and shelves after hours. “Beers and pizza included of course,” he added.

The caption read: “Culture – it means many things to many people. I don’t think there’s a good definition. But when your US team is at the office on a Monday night after-hours, setting up flat packs so we can move in faster, I’d say culture is pretty good.”

While the post might have been intended as a cheerful nod to team bonding, it took an unexpected turn after a screenshot was shared on Reddit’s forum r/LinkedInLunatics with the biting headline:

“Culture is pretty good if people are doing unpaid manual labour.”
The sarcastic caption read: “Beers and pizza definitely makes up for staying after hours and doing manual labour.”

Netizens Aren’t Buying the ‘Culture’ Kool-Aid

The post triggered a flood of criticism from users, questioning whether employees were truly volunteering — or subtly coerced.

“If it’s not during paid hours, it’s not culture. It’s unpaid labor,” one Reddit user wrote bluntly. Another added, “A real company pays a handyman or two to put together the office furniture. They’re probably ‘pre-revenue’.”

Some pointed out the deeper concern — the blurred line between startup enthusiasm and exploitation. One user noted: “Only makes sense as a founder or similar level of ownership. Otherwise, it’s a cult working for free so the owners can get rich faster.”

Others, however, argued that not every instance of after-hours work amounts to toxicity. “I did this for a company I loved working for,” shared one Redditor. “It was all voluntary and the dinner wasn't beer and pizza — it was a top-notch thank-you meal. I didn’t feel taken advantage of.”

In the startup world, “culture” is often worn as a badge of pride — a sign of camaraderie, hustle, and going the extra mile. But as this episode shows, not everyone interprets it the same way. What one founder may call team spirit, others may see as unpaid labour under the guise of belonging.