An Indian professional working remotely for a US-based startup has ignited a massive online discussion about workplace rights and work-life balance after publicly sharing his confrontation with an American boss who denied his leave request.
The Medical Condition That Sparked the Conflict
The employee, who joined the company just one month ago, revealed that he developed a stress-related medical condition during his initial weeks of employment. Despite his doctors attributing the condition to work-related stress, the employee decided to continue working and push through the challenges.
"Started working for a US based startup from India. My boss is a white male. I developed a medical condition in the first month and my doctors told me it was due to stress. But I wanted to push through and get better by myself," the employee wrote in his Reddit post dated November 13, 2025.
The Breaking Point: Leave Denial and Immediate Response
The situation escalated when the employee requested time off from work. His boss demanded a detailed explanation for the leave request and ultimately denied it when the employee chose not to provide specific medical details.
What made the denial particularly frustrating for the employee was the contrast with previous flexibility. The boss had previously allowed time off for Diwali celebrations, which the employee had requested a week in advance.
In a decisive move, the employee revoked his boss's access from work drives, explaining his concern about potential non-payment for work already completed. "I revoked his access from my drive because I was afraid he won't pay me for the work I have done this month and wanted to get that first," he stated.
The Confrontation and Resolution
Following the tense exchange, both parties engaged in a direct conversation to clear the air. The employee firmly communicated his boundaries and expectations, emphasizing that he wouldn't tolerate toxic workplace behavior.
"I let him know this is not cool. If the concern is projects getting delayed, then I would've managed that by working at nights. If the concern was that he only wants to pay for working days, then I wouldn't mind taking unpaid leaves," the employee explained about their discussion.
He added a powerful statement about his workplace philosophy: "I told him that I have worked at a lot of toxic places and I am not gonna let people rule over me."
The confrontation led to a constructive outcome, with the boss suggesting improved communication through more frequent calls to prevent similar misunderstandings. Both parties agreed to move forward with better understanding and clearer expectations.
Viral Reaction and Broader Workplace Implications
The Reddit post quickly went viral, attracting numerous comments from professionals sharing similar experiences and offering support. The discussion highlighted widespread concerns about work-life balance, particularly in remote working arrangements between Indian professionals and international employers.
One commenter warned about broken trust, stating "Trust once broken can never be repaired. Please find another job and move on." Another user shared their own struggle: "Had the same discussion with my AM last week. Then I escalated it to company's legal team because it's so difficult to get a leave even when company is providing you that."
Interestingly, some commenters expressed surprise at the boss's behavior, with one noting: "I've had many white managers but none of them talked like this. While reading the chat I assumed that was an Indian manager. I'm surprised why a white guy would ask such details."
Many users praised the employee's confidence in setting boundaries, with one comment capturing the general sentiment: "Good job brother. I really liked your reply to your boss. You have courage to reply and quit the job when dealing with a toxic manager, which everyone doesn't have."
The incident has sparked broader conversations about employee rights, cross-cultural workplace expectations, and the importance of maintaining work-life balance in increasingly globalized remote work environments.
