Indian Manager Refuses Sick Leave for Headache, Viral Chat Sparks Debate on Work Culture
A WhatsApp chat between an Indian employee and their manager has gone viral after the manager denied the employee’s request for sick leave despite complaints of a severe headache. The incident, which was widely circulated on Reddit’s r/IndianWorkplace subreddit, has sparked a heated debate about workplace culture, employee rights, and managerial empathy.
However, when the headache persisted, the employee responded, “Abhi bhi ho rha hai headache, nahi aa paunga (The headache is still there, I won’t be able to come to the office).” The manager’s reply further added fuel to the controversy: “Med lo na hero. Headache me chhutti thodi na milti hai. Bhai kesi baate kar rahe ho. School me nahi hai (Take the medicine, you don’t get a day off for a headache. What are you saying? This isn’t school).”
When the employee reiterated that they had already taken medicine, the manager doubled down: “Ab aap company me ho. Thoda rest kar lo bhale hi, but office aao (You’re part of the company now. Take some rest if needed, but come to the office).” Feeling pressured, the employee reluctantly replied, “Try karta hu (I’ll try).”
Another user suggested a practical approach: “Next time se bolo unwell (Next time just say unwell).” For many, the issue was not just about a single sick leave but about how certain managers trivialise health concerns and push employees beyond their limits.
Another user said they had adopted a different strategy altogether: “I never ask for leaves. I take leave and inform. I adjust on other days to compensate.” Such accounts highlighted that employees often have to devise personal coping mechanisms in workplaces that undervalue health and rest.
Observers also pointed out that in global workplaces, especially in Western countries, sick leave for even minor ailments is often granted without resistance. By contrast, in some Indian workplaces, health issues are still dismissed, with employees being urged to push through discomfort in the name of productivity.
The viral WhatsApp exchange has struck a chord with working professionals across India. While some defended the manager’s strict approach, the overwhelming response highlighted the need for empathy and respect for employees’ health. As one comment summed it up, “It seems that for some, being a manager also means forgetting empathy.” The episode serves as a reminder that productivity should never come at the cost of human well-being, and that creating a supportive work culture is as vital as meeting business goals.
The Viral Conversation
The now-famous exchange began when the employee asked their manager for a leave of absence due to a headache. The manager’s response quickly caught the attention of netizens. “Medicine leke ajao, koi nhi, thik ho jyga, headache hi hai (Take a medicine and come to the office, it’s just a headache),” the manager wrote dismissively. The employee replied, “Dolo tha vo leke dekhta hu (I’ll take Dolo and see),” indicating they would attempt to manage the pain with medication.My manager when I ask for a leave
byu/Warthei inIndianWorkplace
However, when the headache persisted, the employee responded, “Abhi bhi ho rha hai headache, nahi aa paunga (The headache is still there, I won’t be able to come to the office).” The manager’s reply further added fuel to the controversy: “Med lo na hero. Headache me chhutti thodi na milti hai. Bhai kesi baate kar rahe ho. School me nahi hai (Take the medicine, you don’t get a day off for a headache. What are you saying? This isn’t school).”
When the employee reiterated that they had already taken medicine, the manager doubled down: “Ab aap company me ho. Thoda rest kar lo bhale hi, but office aao (You’re part of the company now. Take some rest if needed, but come to the office).” Feeling pressured, the employee reluctantly replied, “Try karta hu (I’ll try).”
Social Media Outrage
The screenshots of this conversation, shared with the caption “How does one even work with a headache??”, went viral within hours, attracting thousands of reactions. Reddit users, in particular, were critical of the manager’s attitude, with many calling it a prime example of workplace insensitivity. One user wrote, “Headache me nahi milti to kya heart attack aane ka wait karna padega? So irritating! This hero-hero talk is getting on my last nerve!”Another user suggested a practical approach: “Next time se bolo unwell (Next time just say unwell).” For many, the issue was not just about a single sick leave but about how certain managers trivialise health concerns and push employees beyond their limits.
Experiences Shared by Others
The viral post also opened the floodgates for people to share their personal workplace experiences. One commenter recalled, “In my previous company, I made it a habit not to take leave. My manager was so happy that I was working like a donkey. One day I got viral fever and messaged saying I couldn’t work, and he asked me to work half-day. I was shocked. Others in my team used to take sick leave twice or thrice a month. I left that job in four months, and in my new company, I don’t overwork anymore. Even when I’m fine, I take a sick leave once a month.”Another user said they had adopted a different strategy altogether: “I never ask for leaves. I take leave and inform. I adjust on other days to compensate.” Such accounts highlighted that employees often have to devise personal coping mechanisms in workplaces that undervalue health and rest.
Larger Concerns About Work Culture
This incident has reignited conversations about toxic workplace culture in India. For many employees, the expectation to show up despite being unwell points to a lack of empathy in managerial practices. Critics argue that mental and physical health should not be trivialised and that organisations must adopt more flexible policies to support employee well-being .Observers also pointed out that in global workplaces, especially in Western countries, sick leave for even minor ailments is often granted without resistance. By contrast, in some Indian workplaces, health issues are still dismissed, with employees being urged to push through discomfort in the name of productivity.
The viral WhatsApp exchange has struck a chord with working professionals across India. While some defended the manager’s strict approach, the overwhelming response highlighted the need for empathy and respect for employees’ health. As one comment summed it up, “It seems that for some, being a manager also means forgetting empathy.” The episode serves as a reminder that productivity should never come at the cost of human well-being, and that creating a supportive work culture is as vital as meeting business goals.
Next Story