Employee emails HR about sick leave, their response leaves Reddit shaking their heads
An employee posted on Reddit after HR questioned his Monday sick leave and asked for a proper reason. The exchange sparked debate over whether such leave rules reflect workplace discipline or poor management.
An employee turned to Reddit after being questioned over taking a sick leave on a Monday, asking whether his company's leave policy was reasonable or a sign of poor management.
The post, shared on Reddit's r/IndianWorkplace forum, was titled, "Guys, is this some red flag or what?"
In the post, the employee explained that he had fallen ill and informed his HR around two to three hours before the start of his workday that he would not be able to report to work.
Instead of simply approving the leave, the HR representative replied asking him to "mention the reason properly" and reminded him that employees had already been instructed to avoid taking leave on Mondays and Saturdays. The message also stated that the leave could not be accepted without a proper reason.
The employee further shared an email that had been circulated to the entire office with all staff members in CC.
The email requested employees to avoid planning leave on Mondays, Saturdays, or immediately before or after public holidays unless absolutely necessary, stating that these were critical working days for the organisation.
It also warned that repeated leave patterns during such periods could affect operations and that such absences could be treated as Leave Without Pay (LOP) if they were not backed by a valid reason or prior approval.
The email also laid down guidelines for sick leave, asking employees to submit leave requests through Zoho People at least two hours before the workday wherever possible, mention the specific reason for the leave, and provide a medical certificate if the illness resulted in an extended absence.
Unsure whether the policy was normal, the employee asked fellow Reddit users whether the company's approach reflected genuine workplace discipline or pointed towards poorly structured management.
Take a look at the post here:
The post prompted a discussion about workplace leave policies and employee trust. Several users said similar rules are common across many organisations, particularly in industries where absenteeism around weekends and public holidays is frequent.
Others argued that while employers have legitimate operational concerns, restricting leave around weekends or holidays can become problematic if employees are genuinely unwell.
Some also pointed out that sick leave, by its nature, cannot always be planned in advance, adding that informing the employer as soon as possible should generally be sufficient.
At the same time, a section of users felt that asking employees to provide a clear reason for their absence and, in prolonged cases, supporting medical documents was a reasonable expectation aimed at preventing misuse of sick leave policies.
An employee turned to Reddit after being questioned over taking a sick leave on a Monday, asking whether his company's leave policy was reasonable or a sign of poor management.
The post, shared on Reddit's r/IndianWorkplace forum, was titled, "Guys, is this some red flag or what?"
In the post, the employee explained that he had fallen ill and informed his HR around two to three hours before the start of his workday that he would not be able to report to work.
Instead of simply approving the leave, the HR representative replied asking him to "mention the reason properly" and reminded him that employees had already been instructed to avoid taking leave on Mondays and Saturdays. The message also stated that the leave could not be accepted without a proper reason.
The employee further shared an email that had been circulated to the entire office with all staff members in CC.
The email requested employees to avoid planning leave on Mondays, Saturdays, or immediately before or after public holidays unless absolutely necessary, stating that these were critical working days for the organisation.
It also warned that repeated leave patterns during such periods could affect operations and that such absences could be treated as Leave Without Pay (LOP) if they were not backed by a valid reason or prior approval.
The email also laid down guidelines for sick leave, asking employees to submit leave requests through Zoho People at least two hours before the workday wherever possible, mention the specific reason for the leave, and provide a medical certificate if the illness resulted in an extended absence.
Unsure whether the policy was normal, the employee asked fellow Reddit users whether the company's approach reflected genuine workplace discipline or pointed towards poorly structured management.
Take a look at the post here:
The post prompted a discussion about workplace leave policies and employee trust. Several users said similar rules are common across many organisations, particularly in industries where absenteeism around weekends and public holidays is frequent.
Others argued that while employers have legitimate operational concerns, restricting leave around weekends or holidays can become problematic if employees are genuinely unwell.
Some also pointed out that sick leave, by its nature, cannot always be planned in advance, adding that informing the employer as soon as possible should generally be sufficient.
At the same time, a section of users felt that asking employees to provide a clear reason for their absence and, in prolonged cases, supporting medical documents was a reasonable expectation aimed at preventing misuse of sick leave policies.
