Effective communication between employees and managers is crucial in modern corporate environments, yet misunderstandings over approvals and permissions remain common. Workplace disputes often arise when verbal agreements are not documented, leading to conflicts that could have been avoided with simple written confirmation. One recent incident shared on Reddit highlights how such a miscommunication escalated into a formal dispute involving HR and senior management.
Early Leave Granted, Later Disputed
The employee reported that they had informed their manager on a Friday that they would be leaving early between 4:15 and 4:30 PM, as they needed to catch a bus and the following day was their birthday. The manager verbally approved the early departure. The employee also sent a follow-up email confirming the leave but did not receive a response.
The situation took a turn when the manager sent an email to HR and higher management, claiming the employee had left at 3:40 PM without permission. The employee confronted the manager, clarifying that they had received verbal approval and that the departure time mentioned was incorrect.
Corporate Communication Challenges
This case shows the importance of written documentation in workplace communication. Several Reddit users suggested replying to the manager’s email with the original notification and the correct departure time to ensure the employee’s account is officially recorded. Others noted that middle managers sometimes overstep, and employees should maintain professionalism while protecting themselves through proper documentation.
In situations where verbal approval is given, it is often advised to immediately follow up via email or internal messaging platforms to create a paper trail. Such practices protect employees from potential false claims or misrepresentation.
In this case, while the employee had communicated both verbally and via email, the manager’s false narrative created an unnecessary dispute. Reddit responses suggested that responding factually, keeping records, and setting boundaries can mitigate such issues, and employees should take extra precautions, especially when new to a company’s system or hierarchy.
Toward the end of the Reddit discussion, the employee expressed concern about being new to the organisation and felt that HR was unlikely to support their version of events due to the lack of written proof of verbal approval. The employee also described the situation as workplace harassment, stating that despite sharing email evidence and proof of their actual exit time, the manager continued to push what they called a false narrative.