Candidate loses job a day after getting offer letter, all because she asked this
A job candidate saw her offer withdrawn after seeking an offer letter and clarity on work hours. The exchange triggered debate over transparency in pay, schedules and onboarding terms.
A job candidate's request for an offer letter and clarity on working hours cost her a new job, sparking a debate online over whether asking for basic employment details has become a deal-breaker at some workplaces.
The experience was shared on Reddit's r/IndianWorkplace forum in a post titled, "Asking for an offer letter and normal working hours is a crime."
The Redditor explained that his wife had been interviewing for urban planning, GIS and architect roles across Delhi when one company put her through its entire hiring process before offering a salary that was roughly half of what she had requested.
According to the post, the company suggested she join first and discuss a salary revision after three months, an offer she declined.
A few days later, the company reportedly contacted her again, this time asking whether she would join as a freelance consultant. She responded by sending a professional quotation for freelance work, but instead of accepting it, the company returned with another full-time offer that was only slightly below her expected salary. This time, she agreed.
However, according to the Redditor, the situation changed during the next phone call. He claimed she was told there would be no formal offer letter and that she should simply report to work on Monday. She was also informed that the role involved 10-hour office days, a five-day workweek, and remote work on weekends whenever required.
Rather than rejecting the job outright, the candidate responded by asking for a detailed offer letter, clarity on the compensation package after probation, and confirmation of the working hours. "I would be happy to accept the offer once I have the necessary details," she wrote in her reply.
Instead of receiving those details, she was sent another email stating that the company had decided to withdraw the offer. The HR representative wrote that, based on recent conversations about "core hours and onboarding expectations," the organisation's operational requirements did not align with the flexibility she needed, and therefore the employment offer had been rescinded with immediate effect.
Sharing screenshots of the exchange, the Redditor questioned whether requesting a written offer letter and clarification on working hours had become unreasonable, arguing that his wife was not asking for special treatment but simply wanted clarity before committing to the role.
Take a look at the post here:
The post prompted a wave of discussion among Reddit users. Many felt the candidate had handled the situation professionally, praising the polite and well-worded emails while saying employees should not hesitate to ask for written documentation before joining a company.
Others argued that the company's reaction suggested it was looking for someone willing to accept unclear terms without question, with several predicting that the stated 10-hour workdays could easily have stretched even longer.
A number of users also described the exchange as an example of poor workplace culture, saying transparency around compensation, work hours and employment terms should be standard practice rather than treated as an unreasonable demand.
A job candidate's request for an offer letter and clarity on working hours cost her a new job, sparking a debate online over whether asking for basic employment details has become a deal-breaker at some workplaces.
The experience was shared on Reddit's r/IndianWorkplace forum in a post titled, "Asking for an offer letter and normal working hours is a crime."
The Redditor explained that his wife had been interviewing for urban planning, GIS and architect roles across Delhi when one company put her through its entire hiring process before offering a salary that was roughly half of what she had requested.
According to the post, the company suggested she join first and discuss a salary revision after three months, an offer she declined.
A few days later, the company reportedly contacted her again, this time asking whether she would join as a freelance consultant. She responded by sending a professional quotation for freelance work, but instead of accepting it, the company returned with another full-time offer that was only slightly below her expected salary. This time, she agreed.
However, according to the Redditor, the situation changed during the next phone call. He claimed she was told there would be no formal offer letter and that she should simply report to work on Monday. She was also informed that the role involved 10-hour office days, a five-day workweek, and remote work on weekends whenever required.
Rather than rejecting the job outright, the candidate responded by asking for a detailed offer letter, clarity on the compensation package after probation, and confirmation of the working hours. "I would be happy to accept the offer once I have the necessary details," she wrote in her reply.
Instead of receiving those details, she was sent another email stating that the company had decided to withdraw the offer. The HR representative wrote that, based on recent conversations about "core hours and onboarding expectations," the organisation's operational requirements did not align with the flexibility she needed, and therefore the employment offer had been rescinded with immediate effect.
Sharing screenshots of the exchange, the Redditor questioned whether requesting a written offer letter and clarification on working hours had become unreasonable, arguing that his wife was not asking for special treatment but simply wanted clarity before committing to the role.
Take a look at the post here:
The post prompted a wave of discussion among Reddit users. Many felt the candidate had handled the situation professionally, praising the polite and well-worded emails while saying employees should not hesitate to ask for written documentation before joining a company.
Others argued that the company's reaction suggested it was looking for someone willing to accept unclear terms without question, with several predicting that the stated 10-hour workdays could easily have stretched even longer.
A number of users also described the exchange as an example of poor workplace culture, saying transparency around compensation, work hours and employment terms should be standard practice rather than treated as an unreasonable demand.
