The Workplace Antagonists

The Workplace Antagonists is a fiction narrated through the experiences of Arvind Singh, a tech and finance professional who endures a decade of toxic workplaces. Presented as an "autopsy report" of corporate dysfunction, it begins with Arvind's introduction to the "endless grind" after graduation, where he encounters a series of antagonistic bosses in cybersecurity, investment banking, and global finance firms.
Early chapters detail nightmarish scenarios like the "Phantom Boss, " an absentee manager who demands late-night miracles without support; the "Marathon, " involving grueling 18-hour shifts and health collapses in high-stakes trading; and the "Blender, " where roles blur into chaotic multitasking under threats of pay cuts. Subsequent antagonists include orchestrated verbal abuse in an "Abuse Symphony, " profane insults at a semiconductor plant, and petty deprivations like banned coffee machines in the "Perk Desert" or discriminatory treatment in the "Vendor Void, " all amplified by sensory details of stifling offices, acrid smells, and relentless pressure that erode Arvind's health and morale.
As the story progresses, Arvind faces escalating absurdities, such as mandatory ties and arbitrary hours in "Tie Tyranny, " stingy resource cuts leading to overwork in the "Cheap Squeeze, " overloaded roles in "Multi-Hat Madness, " humiliating billing rituals like logging bathroom visits, family sacrifices for targets, denied toxicity in an AI institute's "Innovation Illusion, " and micromanagement in a startup's "Squeeze." Each chapter echoes real-world complaints from forums like Glassdoor and Reddit, highlighting themes of hypocrisy, exploitation, and burnout.
Ultimately, Arvind breaks free by documenting abuses, quitting repeatedly, and founding his own consultancy, emphasizing the need for boundaries, respect, and autonomy to escape corporate antagonists and redefine professional success.