When a Job Turns Into Humiliation: Kerala’s Shocking Workplace Abuse

There’s something deeply wrong when a job meant to bring dignity turns into a source of pain and shame. That’s exactly what happened in Kerala recently, where a private sales company crossed every moral and legal line — just because its employees didn’t hit their sales targets.

It sounds absurd, right? But that’s exactly what happened.

According to what’s come out so far, some employees were not only paraded around like this — they were also made to drink water from dog bowls, lick coins off the floor, and even got beaten. Their only crime? Not hitting the targets their managers expected from them.

Let that sink in.

Sales Pressure Is Real — But This Is Abuse

Sales jobs are tough. Anyone who’s done one knows the mental toll it takes. Targets, deadlines, pressure from the boss — it’s stressful. But there’s a line. And what this company did isn’t “tough love” or pressure — it’s straight-up humiliation.

And this isn’t just about one rogue company either. This is about a mindset that sees workers as numbers, not people. That believes it’s okay to destroy someone’s self-respect in the name of performance.

What’s worse is that this wasn’t even a one-off thing. Some employees say this kind of punishment was routine. Miss a target, and get treated like an animal. Literally.

How Did Authorities Respond?

Thankfully, the story didn’t stay hidden for long. Once the details came out, the Kerala government stepped in. Labor Minister V. Sivan Kutty demanded a full report. The Labor Department tracked down the location — a house in Perumbavoor, where the company operated.

It’s said to be a door-to-door sales company. At the time of the investigation, there were reportedly no male employees left — only women were working there. The company claimed that one of the employees involved was a drug addict who had been fired, and the footage was taken by an ex-manager during a dispute.

But regardless of who filmed it or why — what matters is what was done. That can’t be brushed aside.

Where Are the Worker Protections?

India does have labor laws. Article 21 of the Constitution protects every citizen’s right to live with dignity. The Industrial Disputes Act and other rules are meant to protect workers from this very kind of abuse.

But here’s the truth: most employees don’t even know their rights. And even if they do, they’re scared. Scared of losing their job. Scared of being blacklisted. Scared of being replaced the next day.

That fear is what lets companies like this get away with such cruelty.

The Mental Toll No One Talks About

This story is extreme, yes. But let’s not pretend it’s the only case where employees are pushed to the edge.

In sales — and many private jobs today — the pressure to perform is so intense that people lose sleep, suffer anxiety, and feel constantly on edge. Some say it feels less like a job and more like mental warfare. Meet your target, or risk being insulted, humiliated, or shown the door.

That kind of environment doesn’t build success. It breaks people down.

It's a wake-up call

Honestly, this should make all of us stop and think. What kind of workplaces are we creating? How did we reach a point where treating someone like this—over a missed sales target—is even considered acceptable?

If keeping a job means sacrificing your self-respect, then something’s seriously broken. Especially when young people are already struggling to find work, the idea that they should also tolerate abuse just to stay employed is beyond heartbreaking.

And no, being outraged for a day and then moving on isn't enough. Things won’t change unless we hold people accountable. And that change? It has to start now.

What Needs to Happen Next

Let’s not sugarcoat it — this won’t be fixed overnight. But here’s what can be done, starting now:

• Employers who think this kind of behavior is “discipline” need to be called out and held legally responsible.
• Employees need support — real support — to speak up without fearing they'll lose everything.
• Authorities can’t just “look into it.” They have to act fast and decisively.
• And maybe most importantly, we as a society need to stop normalizing toxic jobs as the price of success.
• Government agencies need to respond faster and enforce labor laws strictly.
• And we, as a society, need to stop normalizing “toxic work culture” as part of ambition.

No target is worth someone’s dignity. No job should cost a person their self-respect.

Final Thoughts

The story from Kerala is heartbreaking. But it’s also not unique. It’s part of a pattern — one that’s becoming too common in many industries.

It’s time we stop turning a blind eye. Everyone deserves to work with respect. Everyone deserves a workplace where fear isn't the only motivation. And if we don’t push back now, this cycle of exploitation will only grow.