‘We Want Hike’: Viral Video Shows HCLTech Employees Chant Salary Demands as CEO C. Vijayakumar Takes Stage at Chennai Event (Watch)
What was intended to be a grand celebration of HCLTech's 50th anniversary turned into an unexpected display of workforce dissatisfaction, after a viral video surfaced showing employees chanting "We want hike" as Chief Executive Officer C. Vijayakumar stepped onto the stage.
What was intended to be a grand celebration of HCLTech's 50th anniversary turned into an unexpected display of workforce dissatisfaction, after a viral video surfaced showing employees chanting "We want hike" as Chief Executive Officer C. Vijayakumar stepped onto the stage.
The incident took place during a private concert held exclusively for company employees in Chennai. The event—part of a nationwide series of celebrations marking HCL Group's golden jubilee—featured prominent artist Anirudh Ravichander and was meant to honor the IT major's five-decade legacy. Goodie Bag Instead of Raise: Employee Shares Photo of 'Goodie Bag' Received Instead of Annual Salary Hike on Social Media; Post Goes Viral, Sparks Outrage.
As displayed in the widely shared video clip, the program briefly shifted tone when a large image of Vijayakumar appeared on the main screen. As the CEO walked out to greet the crowd, a visible portion of the audience began loudly chanting slogans demanding salary hikes. Vijayakumar acknowledged the gathering, greeted the attendees with "Vanakkam Chennai," and proceeded with his address despite the backdrop of continuous chants.
The footage gained rapid traction across social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn, sparking widespread debate. Observers online voiced varying perspectives: some supported the employees for using a direct forum to express compensation concerns, while others argued that a celebratory company function was an inappropriate venue for protest.
The incident highlights broader sentiment within India’s tech sector, where macroeconomic headwinds, delayed appraisal cycles, and reduced variable pay across major IT services firms have led to growing frustration among mid- and entry-level staff. C Vijayakumar Remuneration: Know All About HCLTech CEO's Pay Hike.
‘We Want Hike’
C. Vijayakumar, who has served as CEO since 2016 and Managing Director since 2021, has not issued an official public statement regarding the incident. HCLTech has also yet to release a formal comment addressing the video or employee compensation queries related to the event.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 28, 2026 09:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).