Talent Management

Employee suffering from fever applies for sick leave, manager asks if he still has leave balance

December 5, 2025
www.ETHRWorld.com
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  • Published On Dec 5, 2025 at 03:29 PM IST

< />Instances of employees feeling unsupported when they fall sick are not new, but a recent Reddit post has brought focus on how some organisations still handle basic communication around health-related leave. The discussion highlights how simple acts of understanding — or the lack of them — can shape an employee’s sense of dignity at work.<br><br><!– PROMOSLOT_M –>In his Reddit post, the employee explained that he woke up with a high fever and immediately informed his manager that he would be taking sick leave. According to him, the manager’s only response was to ask whether he still had leave balance remaining. He felt this was dismissive, saying most people would first offer basic concern before discussing administrative details. He also clarified that he would not have applied for leave if he did not have available balance, and stressed that his organisation is a well-known MNC, not a small “LALA company,” as he put it.<br><br><!– PROMOSLOT_M –><div class=” article-detail-ad-slot=”” captionrendered=”1″ data-src=”https://etimg.etb2bimg.com/photo/125786638.cms” height=”442″ loading=”eager” src=”https://hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com/images/default.jpg” width=”590″></img></p> </div> <p>The screenshot showed a short WhatsApp conversation where the employee notified the manager he was unwell and needed a sick day. In his reply, the manager asked if he had remaining leave.</p> <p>The employee added that his company provides around 15 sick leaves annually, and long-term medical leave is approved for major health issues.</p> <h2>Reddit users share similar frustrations and advice</h2> <p>Multiple users responded with varying experiences across industries. One commenter said they would never accept WhatsApp for official work unless the company provided a separate device and number. The original poster, who works in finance, replied that WhatsApp groups discussing work after office hours have become common in many Indian teams.</p> <p>Another user advised establishing boundaries from day one by not responding to private communication channels after work. They said that consistent behaviour eventually sets expectations. Others noted that the effectiveness of such boundaries depends entirely on the organisation.</p> <p>Some shared personal examples: an employee from a Big Four firm said they ignored weekend calls and messages until their team stopped trying. Another user refused to install WhatsApp for work, insisting that official tools like Teams were enough. A few commenters, however, claimed that employees who try to set boundaries sometimes face negative consequences.</p> <p>Several people complained about the overload of work-related WhatsApp groups, while others argued the platform is practical when someone is too unwell to log into official systems. One startup employee joked that the only time they messaged their manager on WhatsApp was to ask for the location of his wedding venue.</p> <h2>Work culture and technology</h2> <p>The thread also turned into a debate about organisations using personal messaging apps for office communication. Some users questioned the security risks, while others pointed out that WhatsApp often becomes the easiest way to send quick updates. A few employees said their companies remove access to official apps on phones, making WhatsApp the only convenient option.</p> <p>Many users highlighted how this <a botkeyword=reliance on personal apps blurs boundaries and increases pressure to stay reachable at all hours. Some recommended getting a separate phone or archiving work contacts, while others advised taking a balanced approach depending on the seriousness of the situation.

  • Published On Dec 5, 2025 at 03:29 PM IST

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