It started as a simple request. Not for special treatment. Not for endless leave. Just basic understanding. But what followed left an employee shaken, the internet furious, and a larger conversation reignited around empathy in Indian workplaces. A now-viral Reddit post has exposed how a moment of personal crisis collided with a cold corporate response — ultimately pushing an employee to resign.
The employee claims they will never forget the event that started off as a request for understanding. Employees expected empathy or, at the very least, basic sympathy when they told their manager about their mother’s deteriorating health. Instead, they allegedly received the startlingly chilly recommendation to “put her in a shelter home.” Rekindling discussion about compassion, limits, and emotional intelligence in the workplace, the comment, which was posted in a now-viral article, caused uproar online and finally resulted in the employee’s resignation.
Why Did The Employee Resign?
Manager told: Put your mother in a medical or shelter home and come to office.
byu/Mr_Moulick inIndianWorkplace
According to Reddit post, a woman who worked at a private bank in India quit after being refused leave to take care of her mother, who was very sick. The incident, which was detailed in a Reddit thread, has sparked intense online indignation and rekindled worries about corporate cultures’ lack of empathy and toxic workplace culture.
What Was Allegedly Said By The Manager?
The manager’s reaction to the employee’s request for a few days off to care for her mother, who had become quite unwell as a result of taking the wrong medication, was surprising.
The manager allegedly advised her to “put her in a medical or shelter home and come to the office if she is not recovering.” Since then, the remark has drawn a lot of criticism for being cruel and inconsiderate.
Was The Employee Making Excessive Demands?
Mr Moulick, a Reddit member, stated that the employee was only requesting a few days to be with her mother during a medical emergency, not an extended leave of absence or preferential treatment.
The post stated, “She was left with only two options”: “Stay with her mother or carry on with her work as usual.”
The worker decided to remain with her mother. She was soon compelled to leave her position, which she had held for a number of years. The user who shared the experience claimed that they did so because they were confused and frustrated, wondering what the “right” answer even looks like in these kinds of workplaces these days.
What Made The Story So Popular On The Internet?
With over 600 upvotes, the post soon gained popularity after resonating with many Reddit users. Commenters expressed disbelief, pity, and rage at the way the matter was handled.
A number of users noted that written remarks of this kind are uncommon. One user added, “Ask the manager to put this suggestion in an email and watch his tone change.” Some demanded more robust legal safeguards against what they called “emotional and professional exploitation,” while others questioned why the employee felt forced to quit rather than wait to be officially fired.
One commenter expressed a common opinion: “There should be some legal way to hold people accountable for this kind of cruelty.”
Conclusion
This incident is uncomfortable — and that’s exactly why it matters. When an employee is pushed to choose between a paycheck and a parent’s life, it exposes far deeper cracks in workplace culture. Empathy should never be treated as a favour or a weakness.
As conversations around mental health and employee well-being grow louder, stories like this remind us that policies alone aren’t enough. Leadership, compassion, and accountability matter just as much. A workplace that cannot pause for humanity is not just broken — it’s dangerous.
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