In a heartbreaking incident that has reignited discussions about workplace stress and mental health, Safi Khan, a long-time employee of HDFC Bank, passed away suddenly on November 19, 2024. Khan, who had worked with the bank for over two decades, suffered a cardiac arrest while preparing for a client meeting. However, his wife, Nida Mushir, claims that his death was not due to natural causes but was a direct result of relentless workplace pressure and harassment.
Mushir took to LinkedIn, a professional networking platform, to share her husband’s story. She described his death as a consequence of a “toxic work culture” at HDFC Bank, where employees are allegedly subjected to immense pressure and their pleas for help are ignored. According to Mushir, her husband had repeatedly complained about being harassed by senior officials over issues like leaves and work demands. Despite resigning months ago, Khan was persuaded to return to the same stressful environment. Read her post below. 👇
“My husband was hounded over leaves and other issues by his seniors. He resigned but was convinced to return, only to face the same suffocating conditions,” Mushir wrote in her post. She also revealed that Khan is survived by her and their two children, aged 10 and 16.
Mushir further alleged that her husband’s death is not an isolated incident. She cited examples of other HDFC Bank employees who faced similar fates. Sadaf Fatima, an employee in the Lucknow office, reportedly collapsed at work, while Shivam Mehrotra, a colleague in Mumbai, passed away during a conference call. Mushir questioned, “How many more lives will it take before HDFC Bank changes its toxic work culture? Employees are pressured to meet excessive sales targets, but the bank doesn’t even provide adequate insurance for its own staff.”
She emphasized that these deaths cannot be mere coincidences and are a direct reflection of the extreme pressures faced by employees at the bank.
HDFC Bank’s Response
In response to Mushir’s allegations, HDFC Bank issued a statement expressing their condolences. “Please accept our deepest condolences. Mr. Safi Khan was a valued colleague who is missed and well-remembered,” the bank said. However, they denied some of the claims made by Mushir, stating that certain statements in her post were “inaccurate.”
The bank clarified that Khan, who joined them on August 5, 2022, was never denied any leave requests during his tenure. They also refrained from providing further details, calling it “inappropriate for discussion” on a social media platform.
Public Outrage and Similar Stories
Mushir’s post quickly went viral, receiving nearly 300 comments from netizens who expressed their anger and shared their own experiences of toxic work cultures in corporate India. Many criticized HDFC Bank for its alleged lack of empathy and poor work-life balance policies.
One user commented, “HDFC Bank, your condolences won’t bring your employee back. It’s your fault for not having proper resources or time management systems. The old mindset of valuing employees who work 90-100 hours a week needs to change.”
Others shared personal stories of loss and suffering. A user wrote, “A similar incident happened with my brother-in-law, Pankaj Mishra, at HDFC Securities in 2022. He suffered a brain stroke and took 15 days of leave. Despite his manager and HR being aware of his condition, his salary was withheld because he didn’t formally apply for leave. He had loan liabilities and a 3-year-old child to support. He suffered another stroke and passed away, leaving behind a grieving family. The toxic culture continues, and nothing has changed.”
Growing Concerns Over Corporate Work Culture
This incident has sparked a broader conversation about the mental and physical toll of demanding work environments in Indian corporations. With increasing awareness of mental health, employees and their families are calling for better work-life balance, supportive policies, and a more humane approach from employers.
As the debate continues, many are urging companies like HDFC Bank to take immediate steps to address these issues and ensure the well-being of their employees. The tragic death of Safi Khan serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for change in corporate work cultures across India.
