New Delhi: A young consultant at Accenture (ACN), who joined the firm in January 2025, has taken to social media to vent frustrations about what they describe as a “relentless, exploitative” work culture.

The consultant, staffed on a demanding client account within a month of joining, described the past year as “the hardest professional experience of my life,” citing long hours, constant late-night calls, and weekend work — often without the ability to log overtime on timesheets.

placeholder
A screengrab of the post on Reddit.

“I was online until midnight three nights last week, and twice this week,” the employee wrote. “There have been times I was texted or called late into the night to get online and work on something.”

The post further claims that the workload has been compounded by internal pressures to take on additional “+1” responsibilities — a role meant to enhance firm culture and collaboration — despite already being overstretched.

The toll, the consultant says, has been not only professional but personal: “It’s not worth the toll it has taken on my mental health, especially in the last 2 months or so. I feel helpless to even raise my concerns.”

The employee also revealed that colleagues on the same project share similar frustrations but feel equally powerless to escalate complaints, given the “power chain” at large consulting firms.

While acknowledging that some thrive in such high-pressure environments, the consultant concluded by saying they intend to leave after completing one year at the firm. “Some people are built for it, and I salute them. But as for me, I don’t feel like being exploited and used any longer.”

The post, which the consultant noted may soon be deleted, highlights the continuing debate around workplace balance, exploitation, and mental health in the consulting industry — one that often glamorizes long hours as a badge of honor.