He worked till 6:30 PM, then got fired on day one: Intern’s story shocks the internet

Starting a new internship is supposed to be a learning experience, but for one student, the very first day became a shocking situation. The intern joined a coaching firm and worked beyond official hours, only to be fired later for not returning to the office when asked.

The story has gone viral online, sparking discussion about how some interns are treated in workplaces.

Fired for saying no

The intern, who joined Alpha Test, shared the experience on Reddit, calling it “the most surreal first-day experience.” They stayed until 6:30 PM to complete all tasks, thinking they were doing a good job.Later, a senior person called and asked them to come back to the office immediately.“There was no emergency, just a random demand. When I told her I couldn't make it back, she fired me on the spot,” the intern wrote.The partner in charge reportedly said, “Our company focuses on efficiency and profit, not on the employees' personal time. Our philosophies do not align.”

Low pay, high demands

The internship paid only 200 RMB per day, around $28, which is less than $2.50 per hour. The intern noted that the company had very high expectations for such low pay.

Online reaction

The post quickly received thousands of upvotes and comments on Reddit. Many people sympathised with the intern and criticised the company’s approach.

One user commented, “Internships are supposed to teach, not chew people up and spit them out. If nobody says anything, they'll just keep cycling through students like it's normal. Call it out.”Another said, “make sure the school knows how they abuse their interns. They shouldn't be allowed to have interns.”

Not a unique problem

The intern mentioned that another leader from the company later apologised for the situation. However, other interns have faced similar experiences, including being fired for being late or failing to meet high expectations, even after spending money to relocate for the internship, as mentioned in a report by NDTV.Disclaimer: This article is based on information and claims shared on social media and reports cited. The Times of India has not independently verified the statements mentioned, and the views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the publication.Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)