When outsourcing goes bad, part 15 of 16

I am simply telling you how things work in India

Jul 10, 2024

At the start of my 4th month I was asked to change some of the "cloud functions" we were using in the Google cloud. I asked Deepika who I could ask about this and she again directed me to Akshay. So I reached out to Akshay and we arranged to talk via video. But when I saw his face on the video screen, I could see he was sick.

Lawrence: Good morning, Akshay. Are you okay?
Akshay: Good morning, Lawrence. I am fine. I have the flu, but I am fine.
Lawrence: Should you be working? The flu can be serious.
Akshay: I feel better now. It was worse last week. This week is better.
Lawrence: Have you seen a doctor?
Akshay: I am fine. How can I help you?
Lawrence: Can you teach me about the way we pass messages among our Google cloud functions? I've been asked to work on that.
Akshay: Ah, there are some diagrams in Miro. Hang on, I will send you an URL.

A long time passed. He typed some things, seemed to lose focus, typed some things, seemed to lose focus.

Lawrence: All is good?
Akshay: Everything is very good, Lawrence. It is strange though, I can no longer smell or taste things. And I've lost my appetite.
Lawrence: I'm sure you are aware that those are symptoms of Covid-19?
Akshay: Of course, but don't worry, I am much better this week.
Lawrence: I understand. Your dedication to the work is admirable.
Akshay: Here you go. I am sending you an URL. Look there. We have the flow of messages documented in Miro.
Lawrence: Excellent. Hang on, let me open this.

I opened the link, looked at the documentation, and was glad to see this answered most of my questions.

Lawrence: Okay, this is great. Thank you so much, Akshay!

A long pause. He stared at me as if he had not heard me. Or he stared at the screen. His face was drained of any expression.

Lawrence: Akshay?
Akshay: Any time, Lawrence, just ask.
Lawrence: Akshay, at the risk of being overly personal, I have the impression that they are pushing you very hard at DevModeMax. Of course you should do whatever is best for your career, but have you ever considered quitting and going somewhere else?
Akshay: If I quit, other companies will think I want money.
Lawrence: What? I can't make sense of what you said. You are working for money, right? Obviously you want money?
Akshay: Yes, but more money? We cannot quit and go to another company. The other company will think that I am the kind of person who quits a job to go look for more money.
Lawrence: Yes, and? I don't follow. Shouldn't you go to whatever job offers the most money?
Akshay: That is not how things work in India. The companies want to know you are loyal.
Lawrence: But Akshay, it is your fundamental right as a worker to seek the best pay.
Akshay: No.
Lawrence: Are you saying the companies collude to keep wages down? In the USA we would call that collusion. It's illegal.
Akshay: I am simply telling you how things work in India. If I quit and tried to go elsewhere, they would be afraid to hire me. And there is a risk that any company I contact would then notify DevModeMax that I was looking for a new job, at which point DevModeMax would fire me and I would never be allowed to work again.
Lawrence: Are you saying the tech companies would blacklist you? That's illegal, right?
Akshay: I am simply telling you how things work in India.
Lawrence: But what they are doing is illegal. You could sue them.
Akshay: No, no, no. If I sue them, I will not win, and I would never be allowed to work again.
Lawrence: But they are in violation of the law, surely?
Akshay: I am simply telling you how things work in India.
Lawrence: Uh.... okay. Akshay, I hope you can get some rest. Thank you for your help.
Akshay: You are most welcome.