IIT Delhi graduate was happy to bag Rs 17 LPA in first job. Later realises the real cost he has to pay

In recent months, conversations around toxic work culture, long hours, and ethical pressure in corporate jobs have been getting louder, especially among young professionals. Adding to that debate, a 24-year-old banking employee and graduate from the Indian Institute of Information Technology Delhi has gone viral after explaining why he chose to leave a high-paying role despite earning close to Rs 17 lakh a year.

From '9-to-5' to Exhausting Workdays

Chirag Madaan said the role initially appeared to be a standard corporate job. But over time, the routine shifted. “I am 24 and I left my 17 LPA banking job. Left it because of two reasons - culture and mis-sell,” he said, explaining what pushed him to take the step.

According to him, what started as a 9-to-5 schedule soon stretched to 9 am to 7 pm, and even the workweek expanded from five days to six. He described how even basic breaks became difficult to manage. “We didn’t have time to eat. We were expected to have our lunch in 15 minutes and start our work again,” he said.


Leave policies, he added, made things worse. Taking time off wasn’t easy, even for health reasons, as employees had to provide detailed explanations just to avail sick leave.

Sales Pressure and Workplace Stress

A major part of the stress came from aggressive targets. Madaan said employees were expected to close deals worth up to Rs 10 crore. Missing these targets often meant facing pressure from seniors and restarting performance cycles repeatedly.

“I mean, it was so toxic that if a person was not able to bring that amount, branch managers used to harass him,” he said. He added that the constant cycle of targets and competition made the environment difficult to sustain over time.

Beyond workload, Madaan raised concerns about ethical issues within the system. He spoke about the pressure to sell financial products that he himself did not believe in.

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A post shared by Chirag Madaan (@yourbankerchirag)

A Moment That Stayed With Him

Madaan recalled an incident where a client showed him an investment portfolio that had been previously recommended by another bank manager. According to him, the returns were lower than what a simple fixed deposit could offer. He said situations like these made it harder for him to continue in the role, especially when he couldn’t openly challenge past advice given to clients.


Since the video surfaced online, many users have shared similar experiences from the banking sector. Some called his account “relatable,” while others described it as a reflection of the “dark reality” of such roles.

A few users said they had also left banking jobs due to similar reasons, especially the pressure to push products onto customers. Others pointed out that while toxic work environments may exist across industries, the combination of sales pressure and ethical concerns makes such roles even more stressful.