A recent post by an Indian-origin man working for a US-based company has stirred significant backlash on social media. The post, which suggests that candidates should “politely decline” job offers if their prospective manager mixes Hindi with English, has been viewed over 1.1 lakh times and garnered nearly 600 comments.
In his post, the man advised, “A lot of Indian friends are entering the job market, switching jobs, among other things. The biggest advice I have to avoid bad managers and companies is: pick a manager who speaks fully in English. During interviews, pay attention to how your future boss is talking. If you notice one Hindi word or Hindi sentence (frequently to other colleagues), politely decline the job after the call. It will not be worth it.”
He further elaborated, “If a manager doesn’t know English and only knows Hindi/Regional languages, that’s totally fine. But if you get a language mixer, your life will be terrible and you will regret your decision.”
Social Media Backlash
The post quickly went viral, sparking a heated debate. Many users criticized the man for his views, arguing that language proficiency should not determine the quality of a manager or a workplace.
One user commented, “This is the most terrific advice I saw on the internet, lol. Language has nothing to do with how a person behaves.” Another added, “It really shows that you’re disconnected from the bottom 90% of society. Work in Manufacturing or a Darshini for a month, and your opinion will change.”
A third user remarked, “If your manager or colleague has such opinions, then politely decline the job offer,” while a fourth pointed out, “Judging bad managers because of their language ability is like judging the taste of a fish by their ability to talk.”
Broader Implications
The post highlights a broader issue of language bias in the workplace. Many argue that multilingualism can be an asset rather than a detriment, and that the ability to speak regional languages alongside English should not be viewed negatively.
The debate also underscores the importance of focusing on a manager’s skills, competence, and behavior rather than their language preferences.