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IT worker says colleague was benched after AI dependence: ‘Increase your savings’

An IT worker has shared a Reddit account of a colleague being placed on the bench after repeated performance warnings.

Updated on: Sep 25, 2026, 16:35:15 IST
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AI is reshaping the IT job market, and one worker’s experience has prompted discussion on Reddit. The employee described a colleague who repeatedly received performance warnings before being placed on the bench. The worker claimed the colleague had more experience but struggled with his work and relied heavily on AI.

What happened to the IT employee?

IT worker urges employees to build emergency savings. (Representational Image/Pexels)
IT worker urges employees to build emergency savings. (Representational Image/Pexels)

The Reddit user began by sharing their own experience after joining a new company around 10 months ago. Within three months, they received a warning that their performance was not meeting the client’s expectations.

They admitted that they had initially taken things slowly because their previous workplace had been “very toxic”. However, the warning pushed them to focus on understanding their work and becoming a part of the team. They eventually improved their performance and received a B+ or A rating.

(Also Read: Woman recalls HR response to harassment complaint: ‘Who is brainwashing you?’)

The situation was different for another team member who joined later. According to the employee, the colleague had more experience but was slow at work and struggled to understand his responsibilities. The Redditor also felt that he was “a little too dependent on AI”.

After receiving warnings for around two months, the colleague was reportedly called by the director and placed on the bench.

For the Reddit user, the incident was a reminder that employees should not assume their jobs are always secure.

“If there are people whose whole life is dependent on a good-paying IT job, please consider it the most serious thing,” they wrote, urging people to increase their savings and create an emergency fund.

They also advised employees to “postpone that concert, postpone that car if it is not a necessity, only focus on needs and start removing debt”.

Read the full story here.

Reddit discusses AI and job security

The experience led to a wider discussion about performance reviews, AI and job security in the IT sector.

“Isn’t it too early to give a warning to new joiners?” one user asked.

Another suggested that employees should improve their technical skills and, where possible, explore a second source of income through areas such as content creation, video editing or a side business.

“Corporate life. No wonder everyone wants a government job,” a user commented.

Another asked whether the changing job market could affect people working in niche domains within IT.

(Also Read: Harsh Goenka highlights littering on Vande Bharat: ‘How to teach civic sense?’)

“Inevitable. We all saw it coming, as did our leaders too,” another comment read.

(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
Vaishali Kapila

Vaishali Kapila is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital, where she covers internet culture, viral social media moments, human interest stories and workplace trends. She believes the best stories often come from ordinary experiences and everyday conversations. Through her stories, she aims to help readers understand not just what is trending, but why it matters. Vaishali has over five years of experience in digital journalism. Before joining Hindustan Times, she worked as a Sub Editor at NDTV, where she specialised in food and travel writing. Over the years, she has written and edited stories on recipes, nutrition, restaurants, destinations and travel trends, while building expertise in digital storytelling and audience-focused content. Today, her work spans topics including consumer issues, lifestyle, workplace trends and stories that reflect everyday life. She enjoys finding fresh angles, speaking with people and adding context that helps readers make sense of a story.

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