A viral Reddit post by a pregnant employee of a public sector bank has ignited widespread debate about workplace conditions in government offices, challenging the long-held belief that PSU jobs are stress-free, stable, and employee-friendly.
The woman, who is 28 weeks pregnant, shared screenshots and a detailed account of what she described as a “toxic” and “inhumane” work environment. According to her post, even when battling a 103-degree fever during her pregnancy, her manager refused to approve leave and insisted she report to work. She alleged that the same manager later called her at 10:30 pm to reprimand her, despite being aware of her condition.
“Sometimes I cry in the office because of this inhumane behavior,” she wrote, “I’m emotionally and physically exhausted. My pregnancy is getting harder every day.”
The screenshots she uploaded show repeated leave requests being denied or ignored. Her post quickly gained traction, drawing thousands of reactions and reopening the public conversation on working conditions in government banks.
She said her first trimester had already been extremely difficult, but staff shortages at her branch left her with no choice but to work through illness. She claimed she had taken sick leave only two or three times that month, and only when her symptoms became unbearable.
The employee accused her manager of deploying several forms of mental harassment like denying pregnancy-related leave, burdening her with an excessive workload that left no time for lunch breaks, micromanaging her work, punishing her for minor delays while forcing her to work overtime, and repeatedly calling her late at night with work-related reprimands. In one instance, she said the manager instructed the office boy to call her after 10 pm when she was unwell.
In her post, the woman also revealed that she had earlier filed a confidential complaint with higher authorities regarding a “shady loan” allegedly approved by the same manager. She believes the retaliation she is now facing is linked to that complaint. According to her, the alleged harassment appears to be an attempt to wear her down before her maternity break so she is forced to go on leave earlier than planned.
“I don’t want to go on maternity leave yet, but this behaviour is breaking me,” she wrote.
The story triggered a wave of support and advice online, with many users urging her to file a formal complaint with HR, escalate the matter to senior leadership, or approach the unit head. Some pointed out that PSU job security should not become an excuse to tolerate workplace abuse.
This incident comes just weeks after another PSU bank employee shared a similar story on Reddit, questioning the widely-marketed “security and prestige” associated with government-sector roles.