A Toxic Workplace That Still Affects Me Years Later - UI/UX Trainee Keyideas Infotech Employee Review

This was, without question, the worst workplace experience of my career. Even after leaving the company more than a year and a half ago, the experience continues to affect me. What is most concerning is that I have met multiple former employees who worked in similar roles and share the same feelings. Many of us have bonded over the lasting emotional impact of working here. The founder, who was also my direct manager, frequently crossed professional boundaries and involved himself in employees' personal lives. Conversations that should have been strictly work-related often turned into discussions about personal matters. In my experience, this behavior was particularly uncomfortable and inappropriate. As a woman, I was told things such as, "If this is how you are, it's better that you get married," and "There is no point in studying and working because you will never be successful." Comments like these were deeply discouraging, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable in a workplace. The management style seemed focused on criticism rather than guidance. No matter how much work was completed, the feedback was often negative. Over time, this severely affected my confidence and mental well-being. I was the only designer managing four brands simultaneously, yet I was constantly made to feel incompetent despite handling an enormous workload. The expectations were unrealistic, and the support provided was minimal. Employee monitoring was excessive. We were required to install software that tracked activity, took screenshots, and closely monitored our work throughout the day. The environment felt built on mistrust rather than professionalism. The company followed a six-day workweek, and long working hours were expected as a norm. Finishing work on time was often viewed negatively, creating constant pressure to remain available beyond scheduled hours. Employees serving notice periods were often treated differently and faced significantly increased workloads after resigning. The compensation did not reflect the workload, responsibilities, or expectations placed on employees, particularly freshers and designers. Overall, this was an extremely toxic work environment that damaged my confidence, affected my mental health, and left a lasting negative impact long after I left the organization.