Bengaluru Founder Faces Backlash Over Unpaid Job Ads
Sridhar Arunagiri, the founder of Bengaluru-based asset management firm 16VC, has come under fire for promoting unpaid job positions on LinkedIn. His controversial post advertised four roles, emphasizing that only “top performers” would be considered, and that the positions would initially be unpaid until candidates met specific criteria. The backlash has sparked a heated debate online, with critics likening the job conditions to “slavery” and questioning the ethics of such hiring practices.
Job Post Details and Requirements
In his LinkedIn post, Arunagiri outlined vacancies for four key roles: product manager, software engineer (full stack), UX designer, and growth marketer. He stated that candidates would need to work from the company’s Bengaluru office, with no options for remote or hybrid work. “This is not a 9-to-5. This is a high-speed, high-impact opportunity for those who want to build something massive,” he wrote, setting a demanding tone for potential applicants.
Arunagiri further clarified that he was not looking for candidates based solely on their resumes or past projects. Instead, he encouraged applicants to demonstrate their capabilities in a real-world environment. “Come join us, prove what you can do in a real environment, and from the next month, we’ll make it paid,” he added, which raised eyebrows among job seekers and industry observers alike.
Online Backlash and Comparisons to Exploitative Practices
The response to Arunagiri’s job postings was swift and largely negative. Many users took to social media to express their outrage, with some comparing the job conditions to “slavery” and others criticizing the unrealistic expectations placed on candidates. One user remarked, “The job requirements make it seem like candidates are expected to sign an agreement to endure unlimited pressure in exchange for a salary.” Another user stated, “I’ve seen slavery conditions better than this,” highlighting the intense scrutiny the founder faced.
Critics argued that the approach undermines the value of labor and raises ethical questions about unpaid work. The backlash reflects broader concerns about workplace culture and the treatment of employees in high-pressure environments, particularly in the tech industry.
Arunagiri’s Clarification and Commitment to Fairness
In response to the mounting criticism, Arunagiri issued a follow-up post to clarify his intentions. He emphasized that the positions were indeed paid and that the initial wording of the job post had led to misunderstandings. “I want to clarify that the intent was never to hire anyone for an unpaid position,” he wrote, aiming to address the concerns raised by potential applicants and the public. Arunagiri assured that the company had successfully hired candidates for the roles and that they would be compensated from day one. “Transparency and fairness in hiring are core to us, and we will ensure better communication in the future,” he stated, acknowledging the feedback and expressing gratitude for the understanding shown by the community. This clarification aims to restore confidence in the hiring practices at 16VC and to mitigate the backlash that has ensued.
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