# Festive Fiasco: Company Slaps 'Mandatory' Rs 1,200 Fee on Employees for Diwali Bash – Netizens Call It 'Toxic' and 'Embarrassing'
October 8, 2025**
Diwali, the festival of lights symbolizing prosperity and joy, is just weeks away on October 21—but for one Indian company's workforce, it's shaping up to be a festival of frustration instead. A viral Reddit post has exposed a WhatsApp message from management declaring a "mandatory" Diwali party with a hefty catch: employees must shell out Rs 1,200 each, while managers cough up Rs 2,000. The kicker? 100% attendance is non-negotiable, complete with a cheeky hashtag promising "BoozeOnTheHouse." The post, racking up over 1,000 upvotes, has ignited a firestorm online, with netizens slamming it as everything from "corporate extortion" to a glaring red flag for toxic workplaces. As offices gear up for celebrations amid economic squeezes, this saga raises tough questions: Should companies foot the bill for team-building, or is it fair game to pass the hat? Let's dissect the drama, the backlash, and why this could be the wake-up call HR teams need.
### The Message That Lit the Fuse
The controversy erupted on Reddit's r/india subreddit when an anonymous employee (OP) shared a screenshot of the office WhatsApp group chat. The forwarded note, ostensibly from higher-ups, reads like a poorly scripted memo:
> "Hi everyone! We will be having a Diwali party. 100 percent attendance is mandatory with your teams. Collect Rs 1,200 from each person in your team. Rs 2,000 from managers. #BoozeOnTheHouse"
The OP captioned it: "Imagine asking money from your employees to give a boring party and the venue is bad too." What started as a gripe about subpar vibes quickly snowballed into a broader roast of corporate culture, with users piling on about the audacity of charging for an event pitched as "fun." No company name was dropped, but the anonymous post hints at a mid-sized IT or consulting firm—common culprits in such tales—where Diwali dos are meant to boost morale but often feel like obligatory chores.
The timing couldn't be worse: With inflation biting and Diwali bonuses already a sore spot (last month, the Finance Ministry barred government entities from splurging on festival gifts), this feels like salt in the wound. Netizens are quick to point out the irony—while the company saves on costs, employees foot the bill for what might be a lackluster night of awkward small talk and overpriced catering.
### Netizens Unleash: From Sarcasm to Solidarity
The Reddit thread exploded with over 500 comments, turning the post into a virtual town hall on office politics. Reactions ranged from hilarious burns to serious advice, with many urging the OP (and others) to push back or polish their resumes. Here's a snapshot of the top sentiments:
| Reaction Type | Sample Comments | Why It Resonates |
|---------------|-----------------|------------------|
| **Outrage at the Price Tag** | "The audacity to ask for money for a Diwali party." / "Lol, the audacity of saying Booze on the House after asking for money." | Hits home amid rising costs—Rs 1,200 could buy fireworks for the family, not fund a colleague's open bar. |
| **Mandatory Attendance Madness** | "Why is it mandatory to attend? Shouldn't that be a choice? What will happen if someone skips it and doesn’t pay anything?" / "What if some employees don’t want to attend... or are non-alcoholic?" | Echoes burnout culture; forcing "fun" ignores personal boundaries, family plans, or introvert vibes. |
| **Red Flag Alerts** | "Any company that does this does not care about professionalism... sign you should move out ASAP." / "This is becoming a norm... If it’s official, the company should pay." | Positions it as a symptom of deeper issues—like low morale or cost-cutting at employee expense. |
| **Humor to Cope** | "I first thought they were distributing 1200... then I realised it’s far worse." / "Embarrassing for a company." | Lightens the mood but underscores the absurdity—why use WhatsApp for this, not an official email? |
| **Practical Pushback** | "Don’t attend if you don’t want to... They’d shamelessly ask you to contribute even if you aren’t going." | Empowers workers: Opt out, unionize informally, or use it as leverage in exit interviews. |
The consensus? This isn't "team spirit"—it's tone-deaf leadership. One user nailed it: "Forced celebrations look like this." Broader media pickup—from Business Today to Hindustan Times—has amplified the chatter, with headlines like "Festive Fun or Wallet Burn?" framing it as a microcosm of post-pandemic workplace woes.
### The Bigger Backdrop: Diwali in the Corporate Trenches
Diwali parties are a staple in Indian offices, meant to foster camaraderie and nod to cultural roots. But in an era of hybrid work and squeezed budgets, they're increasingly flashpoints. Recent guidelines from the Finance Ministry nixed lavish government spends on festivals, setting a precedent that's trickling into private sectors. Meanwhile, surveys show 60% of employees dread "mandatory fun" events, citing everything from FOMO fatigue to inclusivity gaps (e.g., non-drinkers footing booze bills).
For this company, the fallout could be real: Low turnout, HR complaints, or worse—a Glassdoor review blitz. Experts suggest alternatives like voluntary potlucks or virtual toasts to keep the spirit without the sting. As one Redditor put it, "If they want loyalty, earn it—don't invoice it."
This viral vent is more than a rant; it's a mirror to evolving expectations. Will it spark policy shifts, or just more memes? With Diwali lights twinkling soon, one hopes the real glow comes from mutual respect, not reluctant remittances. What's your take—pay up or push back? Share in the comments.
(Sources: Business Today, Hindustan Times, The Indian Express, Economic Times, India Today, News18, and Reddit reactions as of October 8, 2025.)
