A LinkedIn post by chartered accountant Meenal Goel went viral after she shared the three important corporate lessons she learned from her maid’s resignation. On January 13, Goel explained that her maid had quit because she refused to increase her pay by Rs 1,000, saying, “Call only when you are ready to pay me Rs 3,000.”
In her post, Goel reflected on the three key ‘corporate lessons’ she took away from the situation:
1. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For A Raise
Goel wrote, “My boss will laugh me off if I do. If I have the luck, I will get the raise. I am putting in the hard work, I am sure bosses will do justice.” She emphasized, “Sorry No! Never, leave your personal growth in the hands of – fate, God or other humans. You should take charge of your growth.”
2. Never Discredit Your Efforts
Goel asked, “Do you rate yourself low in year-end self-evaluations? Why do you say to your colleagues that – you are not good at it? Why do you think that your contribution to the team is smaller?” She continued, “People believe what you make them believe. If you believe in yourself and are a good team player, so will your colleagues. If you believe you suck at your job, so will your colleagues.” She concluded this lesson with, “Exhibit self-confidence.”
3. Don’t Settle For Less
Goel shared her experiences, writing, “Next year we will promote you. Next year you will get a better increment. What you are asking for is beyond our budget. Sorry, this is the best we can offer for your role. These are the statements I have heard in my 6 years of corporate life.” She added, “And the only thing I have learnt is – ‘Don’t settle for less’. However, in the end, things will happen in your favour. I hope my share helps you to take charge of your growth.”
However, the post quickly drew criticism for its tone-deaf nature. Many users accused Goel of exploiting domestic workers while simultaneously demanding higher wages and better treatment in their own corporate jobs. Comments flooded in, with some users calling her insights hypocritical and insensitive. One user remarked, “Only on LinkedIn dot com will you find such entitled people giving corporate lessons after exploiting their house help.”
The backlash highlights ongoing discussions about the treatment of domestic workers in India, particularly in urban areas like Delhi. Critics argue that a salary of ₹3,000 is not unreasonable for a maid’s services in a metropolitan city. The incident has sparked debates about the disparity between white-collar workers’ demands for fair compensation and their treatment of those in the unorganized sector.
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