Worker's request to have lunch before Sunday meeting turns intro immediate firing for him. 'People confuse leadership with control'

Conversations around toxic work culture, unpaid overtime and unrealistic expectations from interns have become increasingly common, especially as younger workers speak more openly about burnout and pressure in startup environments. A recent Reddit post has added to that discussion after a college student claimed he was removed from his internship shortly after asking for time to eat before attending a Sunday work meeting.

The post, shared on Reddit, described how the student had been balancing studies alongside personal expenses including hostel rent, college fees and food costs. According to the intern, he had spent months working beyond his assigned role before a single disagreement reportedly led to his removal.

Removed After One Message

In the Reddit post, the student explained that he had regularly worked extra hours and often handled tasks outside his responsibilities. He said he stayed late when needed and sometimes coordinated work for others because things at the company were disorganised.


The student also mentioned that he had worked overtime on a Saturday shortly before the incident happened. According to him, there had been no complaints about his work till then.

The issue reportedly started after a meeting was scheduled for Sunday at 3:30 PM despite it being an official holiday. The intern initially agreed to join but later messaged that he needed to go out and eat first because the hostel mess remained closed on Sundays.


Describing the exchange, the student wrote, “Then came the lectures about ‘ownership’ and ‘prioritizing work.’ Like sorry I needed food?”

According to the post, the company later removed his access without what he described as a proper discussion or formal call.

The student also criticised what he saw as unrealistic expectations placed on interns in startup culture. In the post, he wrote, “Startups keep saying ‘we’re a family’ and ‘we value ownership,’ but half the time they just expect 24/7 availability from interns getting paid the bare minimum.”

He further added, “You work extra? Normal. You sacrifice weekends? Expected. You say no once or become unavailable for one hour? Suddenly your attitude is the problem.”

“I genuinely think some people confuse leadership with control,” the intern wrote. “If an intern saying ‘I need to eat first’ hurts your ego so much that you fire them the same day, then maybe the issue isn’t ownership.”

The student also said losing the internship was upsetting because he had trusted the people he worked with. Towards the end of the post, he expressed concern about whether the company would still pay the stipend for the work completed during the month.

Reddit Users Criticise Startup Work Culture

The post quickly gained traction on Reddit, with many users reacting strongly to the intern’s account. Several commenters criticised the way interns are treated in some workplaces and said younger employees are often expected to stay constantly available.

One Reddit user commented, “Companies think interns are slaves.” Another wrote, “Way too often, the intern is just treated as a disposable temp.”

Some users also took aim at companies that describe themselves as “family.” A commenter wrote, “If any company says ‘we are a family’ they are manipulating you.” Another added, “They say ‘family’ in hopes they can abuse you.”

Others felt the student may have avoided a worse workplace situation in the long run. One user wrote, “Looks like you dodged a bullet to me. You don't want to be there.”

A few commenters also encouraged the student to report the matter to his college internship office, arguing that companies accused of mistreating interns should face scrutiny.