Ex-employee's Reddit post alleges workplace issues at Singapore AI startup; firm says claims omit key context

A former employee has alleged that a Singapore-based technology startup over workplace and employment-related issues, including a salary payment dispute. 

The allegations were published on Reddit on 15 June 2026 and quickly attracted significant discussion from users. 

In response to The Online Citizen's email queries, Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said they are looking into this matter.

While the firm rejected that the Reddit post does not reflect the full picture but unable to further comments, citing confidential employment matters and stated the allegations represent only one side of a dispute.

The Reddit user, who did not identify the company involved, claimed he joined the firm last year after it presented itself as a technology startup seeking to "revolutionise the media industry".

However, he alleged that the company was effectively a "ChatGPT wrapper" consultancy rather than a genuine technology business.

Concerns raised about workplace practices

Among the concerns raised by the former employee were questions surrounding workplace management, staffing practices and corporate governance.

According to the post, these included dissatisfaction with the handling of company events and employee expenses.

The post also alleged that Malaysian employees were issued Singapore telephone numbers and instructed to present themselves as Singaporeans when communicating with clients.

The former employee also alleged shortcomings in the company's handling of workplace complaints and employee welfare matters.

Additional concerns related to workplace expectations, including claims that staff were routinely required to work beyond normal hours, and allegations regarding certain business and operational practices.

Website incident and dismissal

The ex-employee also described what he claimed was a major operational failure involving the company's website and email systems.

According to the Reddit post, the chief executive's wife served as head of human resources while also managing the company's website through a personal email account.

The Redditor alleged that an expired payment card linked to the website domain registration was not updated despite multiple warnings.

As a result, he claimed the company lost control of its website domain after it was auctioned and acquired by another party.

The ex-employee alleged that all inbound and outbound company email services immediately failed following the loss of the domain.

He said he worked overnight to migrate systems to a replacement domain in an effort to minimise business disruption.

According to the account, difficulties arose when he required two-factor authentication access linked to the HR head's account.

The Redditor claimed both the chief executive and the HR head became upset over repeated attempts to contact her while he was trying to restore services.

He further alleged that despite helping the company recover from the incident, he and his entire team were dismissed one week later.

The ex-employee earlier alleged that he never received his final month's salary. However, the OP has since updated that the firm has credited his salary after his post. 

While the OP did not identify the company by name, some Reddit users speculated that the firm was Alpha Story AI, a Singapore-based startup founded in 2021 by Jeremy Foo.

According to its official website, the company describes itself as the “best AI-powered PR agency alternative in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.”

Complaint reportedly lodged with authorities, and Alpha Story response

In follow-up comments, the Redditor stated that he had already submitted a complaint to MOM.

He also claimed he was involved in an ongoing dispute with his former employer through the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management (TADM).

In resposne to TOC's queries on the Redditor's complaint, including salary-related claims and workplace grievances, and whether any investigations have been initiated, MOM spokeperson said they are looking into this matter, but did not elaborate on further details. 

Separately, in an email response to TOC on 17 June, Alpha Story founder and CEO Jeremy Foo said the company was aware of the Reddit post but rejected its portrayal of the firm and the events described.

“We have reviewed the matter internally and believe it does not reflect the full picture, omitting important context,” Foo said.

He added that the company would not comment publicly on the specific allegations because they involved confidential employment matters, company records and personal information.

Foo said online allegations represented “one side of a wider employment dispute,” noting that the company was limited in what it could responsibly disclose publicly.

Users share similar experiences

The discussion drew more than 220 comments as of 17 June, with many Redditors expressing sympathy for the former employee while sharing their own experiences in startups and SMEs.

Some questioned why the OP had gone to great lengths to save the company website, arguing that “if owner not worried don't need to worry for him,” while others said the episode could still demonstrate valuable crisis-management skills.

One Redditor claiming to be a former employee of the same company alleged repeated staff turnover, with management describing departing consultants as having “low energy” rather than addressing leadership issues.

The commenter also claimed that Malaysian employees were instructed to “fake being a Singaporean” when dealing with clients.

Broader criticism of startup culture

The discussion soon expanded into broader criticism of startup and SME culture.

One user alleged that a Singapore startup that had raised over US$200,000 later imposed a 40 per cent pay cut before withholding salaries altogether, despite continuing to spend on regional events.

Another user said their probation was “nuked on the last day without prior notice” after reporting a cybersecurity vulnerability.

Several commenters also questioned whether some firms simply rebrand themselves as AI startups to attract funding, while others warned that ambitious “unicorn” dreams often mask weak or unsustainable business models.

Not all founders the same, says entrepreneur

Amid the criticism, one Reddit user who identified himself as a technology founder in Singapore cautioned against generalising all startup founders based on the allegations.

The commenter also encouraged the former employee to preserve documentary evidence and pursue available channels with MOM and CPF authorities regarding the alleged salary dispute.