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‘Act sick, dumb’: Kolkata employee reveals ‘trick’ he uses to get less work at office

The Kolkata employee’s tweet about his office tactic for less workload has sparked mixed reactions on X.

Updated on: Jan 10, 2026 10:12 am IST
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An associate consultant who claims to work at a Big 4 firm has sparked a viral debate after revealing an unconventional strategy for managing his workload. He claimed that he acts "dumb and sick" and brings up "taboo" topics like EMI struggles to enjoy a reduced workload compared to his peers. In a recent tweet, the Kolkata man discussed his workplace tactic and asked for advice on its potential long-term downsides.

A Kolkata man claimed that he uses this tactic while working at a Big 4 company. (Representational image). (Unsplash)

“I found a trick in my office: I act like I am dumb. I starts wearing clothes which make me look sick. I act sick always,” the X user wrote. He added that whenever his colleagues talked to him, he brought up topics like “family responsibilities, loan EMI, and other topics people don’t like to talk.

Also Read: ‘It was always a dream’: Bengaluru woman gives her mother a tour of her Amazon office

The individual observed that his tactic made people pity him and assign him less work than others.

The employee continued, “Expectations are also very less. But I complete all my task assigned to me (So that they feel, this person is in such a bad condition but still is so responsible).

Post by an X user. (Screengrab (X))

An individual wrote, “The moment a civilisation starts normalising mediocrity as a badge of honour, their decline is inevitable. Now you know why startups and corps don't want to hire Gen Z freshers. They have no substance. Pathetic.” Another added,”Smart move, ghosting the grind while still getting paid.” A third posted, “Your boss is doing the exact same thing, which is why they hired you.”

Employee addresses the controversy:

The employee later updated that he had never lied about his family or health conditions, but had chosen to highlight only the negative aspects of his life. “Guys! Don’t get me wrong, I never lied! I have family responsibilities. I have severe asthma, and I had my parents loan me! I just show everyone cherry picked bad things only! And maybe I am dumb, so everything is a truth technically.”

He continued that this was a tactic he had used about six months ago but had now stopped. “Guys guys! Chill! I did this for 2 months in June-July of the previous year! If anyone keeps doing it for more than 3 months, people will fire him! Like I am in a big 4 company, and they make you work so hard, just search about it, simply I would get fired if i was a non-performing employee right! (Just search about bug 4 working culture) you will get it.”

(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta

Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.

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