EisnerAmper India's Cost-Cutting Strategy: A T-Shirt Speaks Volumes

EisnerAmper India Bangalore's office recently came up with a cost-cutting idea that left many employees scratching their heads. For the company’s upcoming event, employees were asked to wear an old t-shirt the company had distributed three years ago—yes, for the third consecutive time. Those who no longer had the t-shirt were instructed to wear a shirt of the same color so it "blends well in photographs." While this might seem like a trivial request, it’s hard not to notice the glaring contradiction. This is the same company that spares no expense flying management across the globe for meetings that could easily happen over Zoom or Teams. Lavish spending on business travel for unnecessary meetings continues unchecked, yet employees are being subjected to these penny-pinching directives. Let’s be clear—it’s not about the t-shirt. It’s about what this represents: the management’s priorities and their apparent lack of respect for employees. The t-shirt is just one example of a broader culture where employees are expected to tighten their belts while the top brass continues with their extravagant ways. This disconnect is demotivating and fosters resentment. Cost-cutting is fine—necessary, even—but it should be done equitably and thoughtfully, not at the expense of employee morale. What are your thoughts? Have you seen similar instances of lopsided cost-cutting measures in your workplace? Let’s discuss!