Talent Management

Employee pleads I cant breathe, boss replies but we have a deadline

December 24, 2025
www.ETHRWorld.com
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< />In today’s fast-paced corporate environment, employees often face immense pressure to meet tight deadlines, sometimes at the expense of their health. A recent incident shared on Reddit highlights just how extreme this pressure can become, sparking discussions about workplace empathy and the treatment of staff during medical emergencies.<br /><br /><!– PROMOSLOT_M –><h2>Employee recounts sudden health scare at workplace</h2>An employee described experiencing difficulty breathing toward the end of her workday, just minutes before the office was due to close. A colleague reportedly approached to remind her about a pending task, emphasizing the urgency of the deadline. The employee explained that she needed to see a doctor due to her condition. When she informed her manager directly, the response was ” but=”” captionrendered=”1″ complete=”” concern=”” data-src=”https://etimg.etb2bimg.com/photo/126158482.cms” deadline=”” early=”” have=”” health=”” height=”442″ loading=”eager” morning.=”” next=”” rather=”” rest=”” she=”” some=”” src=”https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/images/default.jpg” suggesting=”” take=”” than=”” that=”” the=”” we=”” width=”590″ work=””></img></p> <p>The employee also highlighted that the urgency around the task was introduced only after they indicated they were unwell. The deadline, according to their account, was announced at the same moment they expressed their inability to finish the task within a few minutes. This added pressure made the response feel dismissive and raised questions about how some workplaces handle employee welfare.</p> <h2>Online reactions<br /></br></h2> <p>The post attracted widespread attention online, with many commenters relating to the experience. One user noted that extremely tight deadlines are often used to create urgency, and replacing employees can be difficult due to onboarding times, suggesting that workers prioritize their health while managing such pressures. Another, identifying as a senior operations manager, emphasized that health should always come first, arguing that high salaries or promotions are meaningless if employees cannot maintain their well-being.<br /></br> Other commenters questioned how deadlines are set, asking why employees working on projects are not involved in the process and whether client communications are adequately managed to avoid last-minute stress.> </p> <div> <div> <ul> <li><a href=ET Online

  • Published On Dec 24, 2025 at 03:49 PM IST

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