...
...
Next Story

Founder hails employee for being online on wedding day, internet calls it ‘awful’

The founder praised the employee’s sense of ownership, adding that he was asked to log off instantly.

Published on: Apr 9, 2026, 14:48:02 IST
Advertisement

A founder is facing a wave of backlash after praising an employee for logging into work on his wedding day. While the founder hailed the move as a sign of "special ownership" and genuine excitement for their project, social media users have labelled the incident "awful." Despite the founder’s claim that the employee was on approved leave and was voluntarily online for work communication, the viral exchange has reignited a fierce debate over toxic work culture and the lack of boundaries in the tech industry.

The founder shared that the employee was online despite having fully approved PTO. (X/@AY_Orbach)
The founder shared that the employee was online despite having fully approved PTO. (X/@AY_Orbach)

One of our team just got married today… and still popped online for a bit,” Aj Orbach, co-founder of Ohio-based firm Triple Whale, wrote.

Also Read: Techie says laid-off big tech employees are making job hunt harder for freshers: ‘Not even getting rejection mails’

He added, “Not because anyone asked. Is on fully approved PTO. Just genuinely excited about what they’re building. That kind of ownership is special. Also told them to log off.”

Orbach shared a screenshot of a conversation between him and the employee, in which he asks, “How is it going?” The employee replies, “It's going, got married this morning/afternoon but I am back online.”

How did social media react?

Also Read: Zoho issues clarification after Bengaluru founder claims Zoho Books error led to financial loss

An X user wrote, “That’s awful. One lucky partner. Another added, “His marriage is not gonna end well.”

A third posted, “This is the saddest most pathetic s**t I've seen in quite a while.” A fourth expressed, “Genuinely one of the most pathetic things I’ve ever seen on this app. In that saying something, you should be embarrassed."

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta

Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe