A retail banker based in India has ignited a fiery online debate about workplace culture after sharing evidence of his manager repeatedly rejecting his planned leave requests. The incident came to light when the employee posted a screenshot of the email conversation on Reddit's 'r/IndianWorkplace' forum, drawing widespread condemnation of what many are calling a toxic work environment.
The Monthly Struggle for Basic Leave
Under the title "Planned leaves," the frustrated banker revealed that despite submitting his time-off schedule for December and January a full month in advance, his manager consistently refused to approve even two consecutive days of leave. What makes the situation more concerning is that this has become a recurring monthly pattern according to the employee.
"He cries like a child every month when I mention two continuous days as 'leave' and then I have to break it into separate days," the banker wrote in his viral post. The manager reportedly defended the rejections by claiming their team is small and that any absence would inevitably "put pressure on other team members."
The employee raised a valid concern about how anyone could possibly plan a short trip or holiday without being permitted two consecutive days off. He specifically emphasized that his request didn't involve "clubbing any holidays or weekends," making the denial even more unreasonable.
Reddit Community Backs Employee, Condemns Management
The online community overwhelmingly supported the banker's predicament, with numerous users criticizing the manager's approach. One commenter pointed out, "This happens when your manager has zero idea of the work," suggesting that such supervisors resort to micro-management simply to "look important."
Another user highlighted the fundamental misunderstanding of planned leaves, stating, "'Planned' leaves are supposed to be planned by the employee, not the employer." A third user shared a common workplace strategy, joking that they mysteriously "get sick the day after my planned leave" when facing similar situations.
Deeper Organizational Issues Revealed
Several experienced professionals suggested the problem extends far beyond this individual manager. One particularly insightful comment read, "As someone who's spent a decade in corporate, this sounds like an organisational issue more than a manager one... You should start planning an exit, bad company and bad boss are unwanted problems."
The same user offered practical advice for dealing with such situations: "Next time, don't ask for leaves. Just put them in the portal, inform your manager that you've booked tickets, and hand over your tasks in advance." This suggestion reflects a growing sentiment among Indian professionals about taking a more assertive approach to work-life balance.
The viral post has sparked a much-needed conversation about employee rights and work culture in Indian corporations, with many calling for more humane treatment of employees and respect for their personal time.
