A Reddit post describing an Indian employee’s experience with sudden managerial pushback despite prior leave approval has struck a chord online, sparking debate around workplace culture, attendance policies, and managerial accountability.
The employee said their Christmas-week leave had been informed and approved nearly two months in advance. The user said that with all formal processes were completed, including approvals on emails and other necessary formalities. However, days before the leave was to begin, the employee received a message from their manager saying, “we haven’t discussed this leave.”
The post pointed out the contradiction, noting that official records reflected the approval even if the manager appeared to have forgotten. The employee wrote that systems like Outlook calendars and leave trackers “remember perfectly — just not management.”
Attendance compliance turns into last-minute scrutiny
The employee explained that they had travelled to their hometown after six months and had not visited the office for five days, but remained within compliance norms. With near-100% office attendance over the past year and available work-from-home days still unused, the employee said they were working remotely during the current week and had approved leave scheduled for the following week.
The employee argued that such interventions often arise only when someone becomes unavailable, even if all rules and policies are technically being followed. “What really gets me is how everything is fine until you’re unavailable,” the post said, adding that issues like compliance and presence suddenly become urgent talking points.
Online reactions highlight broader workplace frustrations
The post criticised what it described as a management culture driven more by “vibes instead of calendars,” where documentation is overlooked and accountability shifts onto employees at the last moment. It also raised concerns about emotional pressure tactics being used to discourage employees from taking approved leave.