A satirical LinkedIn post has gone viral after many failed to recognize its humorous intent, sparking heated debate across social media.

The post, written by Drew Szurko, made a comment on deceptive hiring strategies, where recruiters falsely advertise remote roles only to later reveal in-office requirements.

In the post, Szurko, who lives in Illinois, said: “I tell candidates the job is remote. They accept. Then I tell them it’s in-office. They still show up. It’s not lying – it’s strategy. Companies struggling to hire are missing the point: the best candidates want remote work. If I listed a job as in-office from the start, I’d lose half the talent pool before the conversation even started.”

The post quickly gained attention and was reposted to Reddit, where many took it at face value, leading to serious outrage.

On the r/mildlyinfuriating subreddit, users condemned the apparent tactic. One user wrote, “Nothing makes me want to work for a company more than when they lie to me. It really inspires trust and respect.” Another posted, “It’s not deception? Um, it DEFINITELY is.”

However, some users quickly pointed out that the LinkedIn account behind the post is satirical. Szurko later edited his post to clarify, adding, “For those in the back—this is satire. Don’t take it too seriously!”

Despite this, the damage had already been done, with many people continuing to express their anger and frustration over deceptive hiring practices.

“I initially wrote it as a lighthearted satire, poking fun at the chaotic hiring practices I’ve noticed since around fall 2020,” Szurko told Newsweek. “I’ve seen companies, in some cases, take advantage of shifting job markets and uncertain times, so I wanted to highlight that in a humorous way. I truly did not expect the post to blow up the way it did or stir up so much anger.”

Szurko said that the post had revealed just how difficult it is for people to recognize humor or sarcasm online.

“It’s surprising how quickly people assumed I was serious. I never anticipated needing a giant ‘this is satire!’ disclaimer, but in hindsight, maybe it was necessary,” he said.

Szurko was taken aback by the intensity of reactions on platforms like Reddit, where discussions about the post sometimes veered into personal attacks.

While the viral post sparked controversy, it also highlighted a broader issue: the extent to which some hiring practices mirror the satire Szurko intended to critique. Many respondents, even those who eventually realized the post was a joke, pointed out that misleading job postings are a real and frustrating trend in today’s job market.

The post comes as President Donald Trump has mandated a return to office for nearly all federal employees. Last year, a study found that the majority of remote workers in the United States, 57 percent, said that they would quit their jobs if forced to return to the office.

“Overall, I’m humbled (and admittedly a bit shocked) by the huge response this has generated, but I also hope it encourages people to step back, read more carefully, and appreciate that sometimes a post is just meant to make us chuckle (and maybe think a little),” Szurko said.