An IT professional was left completely taken aback after being dropped from an ongoing project simply for taking two personal days off within a year. Disturbed by the incident, the employee shared the experience on the Indian Workplace subreddit, seeking advice on whether any legal steps could be taken against what they felt was unfair treatment.
The employee explained that they had over four years of industry experience and a strong track record across previous assignments. In earlier roles, they had consistently delivered outstanding results, earning multiple awards, certifications for meeting deadlines, and recognition for maintaining high quality standards. However, the situation changed dramatically after joining the current project.
From the very beginning, the work environment felt hostile. The team allegedly pushed for extended working hours beyond official schedules, something the employee firmly declined due to personal boundaries and an existing medical condition. They maintained a strict end to their workday at 6:30 pm and committed to operating strictly within assigned responsibilities and capacity. This decision reportedly angered the manager, who the employee claimed shouted at them the following day, behaved disrespectfully during a stand-up meeting, and did not allow them to speak.
Despite being told that others on the team worked until the early hours of the morning, the employee emphasized that efficiency mattered more than hours logged. They consistently completed tasks on time, while colleagues who stayed late frequently missed deadlines. Adding to the frustration, the technical lead allegedly lacked adequate understanding of the technology involved, labeling nearly every task as urgent and assigning responsibilities indiscriminately.
he workload steadily increased, with the employee receiving tasks meant for junior team members as well. When they questioned this, the manager reportedly justified it by saying others lacked the same technical expertise. This led the employee to wonder why underqualified individuals were retained while they were continuously overburdened.
The situation escalated when the employee requested three days of personal leave, informing the manager a week in advance. The request was met with resistance, citing the project’s critical phase and the employee’s importance to the team—importance that, according to the employee, was conveniently ignored during performance reviews. The manager suggested that two days would have been acceptable, but three was excessive, even though it was the first personal leave taken that year. The employee assured that all assigned work would be completed before leaving, which they successfully did, and notified the manager of the leave through official communication channels.
The response that followed was described as harsh and unprofessional. The manager claimed the leave was never approved and later sent a lengthy email documenting alleged issues before removing the employee from the project altogether. The employee alleged a pattern of similar behavior, noting that others had previously been pushed out under comparable circumstances.
Seeking accountability, the employee asked whether legal action was possible to address what they perceived as narcissistic and abusive management. In response, one Reddit user advised raising a formal complaint with HR while simultaneously searching for a new job, cautioning that legal battles could negatively affect future background checks. Another commenter offered blunt advice, urging the employee to move on and find a healthier workplace rather than prolong the ordeal.