‘Work for one day, then get the offer letter’: Kolkata hiring post sparks debate

A Kolkata hiring experience has led to a discussion online after a woman claimed her ser was asked to work for a day before receiving an offer letter. The candidate had reportedly cleared multiple rounds of interviews at an established company before being told she was expected to join immediately.Candidate allegedly asked to work before formal hiring. (Representational image generated using AI)According to her ser, the job also came with a salary she felt was below market standards, along with no transport facility or additional allowance for night shifts.Candidate allegedly asked to work firstThe experience was described in a LinkedIn post Aratrika Manna, who said her ser had interviewed with a well-known company in Kolkata.Manna claimed her ser went through several rounds of interviews and was only told after completing the process that she was expected to join the same day. When she asked whether she could start on Monday instead, she was allegedly told that this was not possible.(Also Read: Bihar biology teacher’s classroom lesson on reproductive health divides internet: ‘It’s not wrong, but…’)The bigger surprise came when the candidate asked for an offer letter. According to Manna, she was told that she would have to work for one day first and would receive the offer letter afterwards.Manna also claimed that the compensation was significantly below market standards. She alleged that the role did not come with transport for night shifts, a night shift allowance or any additional benefits to account for the working hours.“This is not about expecting an unreasonable salary or special treatment. It is about basic professionalism and transparency in hiring,” she wrote.She argued that candidates invest considerable time and effort in preparing for interviews and attending multiple rounds and should know the salary, working conditions and terms of employment before starting work.“An offer letter should not come after someone has already worked for the company for a day,” she added.Take a look:What did people say?“That’s an immediate red flag where a company expects you to show up and then the offer letter is rolled out,” one person wrote. They also warned that such an arrangement could include clauses restricting an employee’s immediate exit.Another user said the lack of transport, night shift allowance and additional benefits was “normal” even in cities such as Delhi and Noida.One commenter argued that established multinational companies generally issue offer letters before hiring, while smaller or less-established firms may follow different practices.Another user said they had never experienced anything similar despite working in Kolkata for years. “I started with an IT startup, and even they followed all protocols,” they wrote.A further comment said, “The standards in the city are so low that it doesn’t even feel like something abnormal. I see and hear about five incidents worse than this happening to people while working in Kolkata.”(Also Read: Woman recalls HR response to harassment complaint: ‘Who is brainwashing you?’)Another user felt the issue went beyond hiring policies, writing, “I think it’s a mindset problem in almost every organisation. Many people don’t care about others’ time, value or energy.”(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)