A woman faced appalling behavior from her coworkers after returning to work following a difficult personal period. Her friend shared the distressing incident on the Indian Workforce subreddit, recounting how she had taken leave to care for her father, a stage 2 prostate cancer survivor.
During his illness, she managed everything alone—from hospital visits and medication to his surgery—while also coping with emotional exhaustion. Her leave, lasting one and a half months, was fully approved and necessary given the circumstances.
Despite informing her manager and team about the situation, her colleagues continued to badger her with repeated calls, questioning when she would return. The constant pressure added to her emotional burden, even though she had made it clear she was unable to work during that period.
When she eventually resumed work, she expected compassion but was instead greeted with sarcasm and cruelty. One male colleague mocked her, suggesting she must have gotten used to being idle at home. The remark stung deeply, as she had been battling sleepless nights while caring for her ailing father.
Insensitivity from the Top
Her ordeal worsened when her manager summoned her for a discussion. After briefly asking about her father’s recovery, he began comparing her situation to his own past, mentioning that he had lost close family members to cancer but never took a break from work. He concluded by saying that sometimes one must simply “give up,” a statement that left her speechless and hurt. The implication that she should have abandoned her responsibilities toward her father was both heartless and demeaning.
Later, she discovered through a coworker that her male colleagues had a private group where they met regularly to gossip about others. Shockingly, she had become their latest topic of ridicule. These men were even influencing the manager to approach HR, accusing her of using the “women card” whenever she faced criticism. It became evident that the toxicity stemmed not from HR, but from this internal clique spreading rumors behind her back.
The Online Reaction
Reddit users expressed outrage at the incident, noting that workplace gossip often comes more from men than women. Many condemned the unhealthy culture of glorifying overwork, where employees take pride in sacrificing personal well-being and family for their jobs. Commenters criticized the lack of empathy in corporate environments, emphasizing how honesty and vulnerability are rarely rewarded. Several urged people to prioritize family over toxic work cultures that celebrate burnout instead of compassion.