‘I’m in the hospital’: Viral Reddit chat shows manager’s response that left employee shocked

In an era where conversations about mental health, personal boundaries, and workplace flexibility are becoming increasingly relevant, a Reddit post by a young professional has sparked a fresh round of dialogue on how Indian workplaces respond when employees face real-life emergencies.The post, shared on r/IndianWorkplace, describes a situation where a fresher had to deal with a medical emergency involving a newborn in their family, and the kind of support– or lack thereof– they felt they received from their reporting manager.WhatsApp exchange during crisis becomes a talking pointThe post includes a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation where the employee informed their manager about a sudden health emergency. Their message read: “I'm sorry I missed your call and wasn't able to update you! Actually, our baby is in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and will be under observation for the next 24 hours. I will not be able to come tomorrow as well! I'm still in the hospital!”The manager acknowledged the message and responded: “Ok beta, thanks for updating,” followed by, “but if there is any possibility to come tomorrow, then pls try for it.”The employee expressed disappointment at the response, stating in their post that they had been consistent and sincere at work since joining, with no prior record of unplanned leaves.Reddit post:

Employee voices frustration over lack of sensitivityIn the detailed Reddit post, the employee, who joined the company earlier this year, wrote: “I joined this organisation in January as a fresher and have been working sincerely since day 1. Zero unplanned leaves, no break exceeding, on point performance, and this is what I get in return when I needed to be eased! I just lost my grandmother a few days back and had my niece on 30th August! She is premature and needed to be put under observation today! BTW, my reporting manager is a woman! I am done with this place and now going to look for other opportunities as soon as l can!!”Comment section reacts: Support, criticism, and broader reflectionsThe post sparked hundreds of comments from users– many who could relate, and some who offered differing views.

Several commenters echoed the sentiment that corporate environments in India still struggle with understanding personal emergencies.One user commented: “Boomers find work too sacred that no matter what needs to get done. Emergencies at work do not exist. What will happen if someone misses a deadline? Nothing.”Another pointed to a top-down culture of pressure: “The chain of reaction can be seen here. I get why these so-called ‘managers’ do this...

If the manager sides with the employees and not the company? He loses his job.”Some shared their own experiences: “Bhai, the manager straight away asked me to report to the office when my grandmother was in very serious condition, never trusted any of them after that.”Users call for boundaries in corporate lifeThe thread also saw comments advising employees to be more assertive in drawing boundaries at work. One user wrote: “Guys, please learn. No company works for you.

Only we work for them. So do only what is required. Don't go overboard. Take all your damm leaves. Don't Stress for the Company. You are not paid enough.”Not everyone agreed with the employee’s postWhile many supported the employee’s decision to step back, others felt the manager’s message was polite and non-demanding. Some suggested the reaction may have been overblown.A user commented, “I think the manager was still polite. No? Plus, if it had been your child and not your niece, maybe she would have shown more concern?”Another wrote: “I feel this is a very normal message. She might have some urgent work pending, so she said ‘IF’ but never forced you to come.”However, there were also strongly critical responses aimed at the original poster. One such comment read: “Bro, u are a loser. She has done nothing wrong. The way u have responsibilities at home, similarly, u have responsibilities in the office, too. Don't try to take validation from other losers here. Otherwise, prepare other colleagues who can do ur work on your behalf.”Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available content from Reddit. All quotes are reproduced as posted by users. The Times of India does not confirm, endorse, or take responsibility for the accuracy of these claims or opinions. Thumb image: Canva (For representative purposes only)