Employee Says Manager Pressured Him to Work From Hospital While Wife Was in Labour: ‘The Worst Part? I Can’t Quit’

New Delhi | Nov 23, 2025 A Reddit post has recently drawn attention to the story of an employee who says he was pressured by his manager to continue working while his wife was admitted to the hospital to give birth to their first child. What should have been a moment of joy and focus on family quickly turned into a stressful confrontation over leave and responsibilities. According to the post, the employee requested two days of leave so he could be with his wife during the delivery. Instead of understanding or support, he says his manager asked him to postpone the leave and even questioned whether his parents could handle the situation so that he could continue working. When the employee explained that his parents were present to help, the manager allegedly suggested he should work from the hospital, remarking that he “wouldn’t have to do anything anyway.” The employee tried to reassure his manager that his tasks could be managed by a colleague and that he would complete the remaining work afterward. The manager dismissed this solution, saying the colleague already had too much on their plate. Faced with mounting hospital responsibilities and the emotional strain of being present for his wife, the employee finally insisted that working from the hospital was impossible and formally applied for leave. Only then did the manager agree, instructing him to send an email including HR. In his post, the employee reflected on the difficulty of balancing personal life and work in India, noting, “I don’t know why Indian managers still think employees shouldn’t have personal lives.” He also expressed the challenge of leaving the job, writing, “The worst part? I can’t quit. I already have a kid and growing responsibilities.” The post resonated widely on Reddit, where users criticized the manager’s behaviour as heartless and insensitive. Many commented on the need for better labor laws and work culture in India, highlighting how employees are often expected to prioritize work over major life events. Some users expressed relief that they no longer work in similar environments, while others condemned the mindset reflected in the manager’s comment that the employee “wouldn’t have to do anything anyway,” pointing out the toxic work culture it represents. This incident underscores ongoing challenges in India’s corporate environment, particularly the lack of empathy for employees navigating personal milestones. It also highlights the importance of supportive HR practices and fair leave policies, especially during major family events like childbirth. Employee Says Manager Pressured Him to Work From Hospital While Wife Was in Labour: ‘The Worst Part? I Can’t Quit’ A Reddit post recently went viral after an employee shared how his manager pressured him to work while his wife was in the hospital giving birth to their first child. What should have been a joyful and important family moment turned stressful, as his leave request was initially ignored. According to the employee, the manager first asked him to delay his leave and then suggested his parents handle things so he could keep working. When he explained that his parents were present, the manager reportedly told him to work from the hospital because he “wouldn’t have to do anything anyway.” The employee tried to reassure the manager that a colleague could cover tasks and that he would complete the rest afterward. The manager dismissed this, saying the colleague already had too much on their plate. Only after the employee firmly refused to work from the hospital and formally requested leave did the manager agree, asking him to loop in HR. The post sparked outrage on Reddit, with users criticizing the manager’s insensitivity and highlighting the need for better work-life balance and labor protections in India. Many emphasized that no employee should have to justify being with their family during major life events like childbirth.