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A marketing intern’s Reddit post about being promised a ₹10k stipend but receiving only ₹5k has sparked debate online, with many urging the student to quit over unfair treatment
A marketing intern has ignited a debate on Reddit after alleging that the company credited only ₹5,000 instead of the promised ₹10,000 monthly stipend (Image-AI)
A marketing intern’s Reddit post has gone viral after the student alleged that a company paid just ₹5,000 despite promising a monthly stipend of ₹10,000. Claiming they worked long hours, handled weekend assignments and even took on responsibilities beyond their role, the intern asked fellow Redditors whether it was worth staying or quitting.
According to the Reddit post, the student joined the company as a Marketing Executive intern on June 8, 2026, after being offered a monthly stipend of ₹10,000. Before accepting the role, the intern had informed the employer that, due to college commitments, they would only be able to attend the office three days a week until July 17. The company reportedly agreed to the arrangement.
However, the student alleged that the actual workload turned out to be far more demanding than expected. Although office attendance was limited, the intern claimed they worked every day by completing remote assignments and were occasionally asked to work on Sundays as well.
The intern further stated that official office hours were scheduled from 10:30 am to 6 pm, but they frequently stayed until 7:30 pm or even 9 pm. According to the post, work-related tasks also continued after office hours, while additional responsibilities outside the original marketing role were assigned during the internship.
The issue escalated when the stipend was credited on July 5. Instead of the expected amount, the intern said they received only ₹5,000. When questioned, the manager reportedly explained that the reduced payment was due to irregular office attendance.
The student, however, argued that they had worked every day and believed they should have received at least ₹7,500 based on the company’s payment cycle.
Adding to the frustration, the intern highlighted the daily commute, saying they spent nearly three hours travelling approximately 30 kilometres. Despite the effort, the student felt the internship had offered little professional growth.
In the Reddit post, the intern wrote that they planned to discuss the matter with the company on July 9. They added that they might consider staying if the stipend were increased by ₹2,000, but would otherwise resign.
At the same time, the student expressed concern that the company’s recruiter, whom they described as influential, could negatively impact future campus placements. The intern also admitted that they had not gained any meaningful skills from the role and had instead been left feeling exhausted.
The post quickly attracted attention on Reddit, with many users advising the student not to continue working for an employer that failed to honour its original financial commitment.
One user wrote, “How big is this company? If less than 10 people, then quit. Recruiter can’t do shit. They may bar you from trying for other placement drives in college, try to reason with them and start searching on your own also.
This profile – Marketing Executive will always have jobs available for freshers, so unless you want a different job role, there’s nothing to worry. Confront your management and ask for a fair pay, if not then leave.”
Another commented, “Quit ASAP. Don’t even bother staying and fighting for rest of the money, they won’t give. No recruiter can “ruin” your placements. Have faith in yourself. It’ll be alright. Sad that you’re going through this but these startups are fucking disgusting.”
A third user said, “Seriously 5 k on 10 k promise this is big dark red flag send them resignation.”
Another Redditor simply remarked, “They are scamming you, don’t let them.”
Echoing a similar sentiment, one more user wrote, “Quite asap startup has scammed you this shows their true nature how they treat all employees regularly.”
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