He kept falling asleep at work and expected to lose his job. But manager’s response left him in tears. ‘Your work is not your life’

Work-life balance has become a myth in today’s fiercely competitive job market. Professionals are expected to be always on time, juggle multiple tasks, work overtime and even attend calls or online meetings on their off days. These patterns often lead to stress and burnout, leaving several employees sleep-deprived and physically exhausted. In such cases, healthy workplaces try to support their employees, allowing them to rest and recover instead of punishing them. Such is the story about compassion in leadership shared by career coach Simon Ingari on X, which has sparked a conversation about prioritising people over productivity.

As per the post, a manager noticed that one of her employees had been repeatedly falling asleep at work and that his overall performance had started to decline. Concerned about the situation, she called the employee to discuss the matter.

Employee shares why he has been falling asleep at work

Initially, the employee kept quiet and apologised for dozing off in-between his work hours. He was certain that his manager would fire him for his actions. But instead, the manager assured the professional that she was not going to terminate him and instead wanted to know the real reason behind the employee’s sudden change in behaviour.

Encouraged to speak openly, the employee revealed that he had been battling a medical condition for some time and was taking medication, which left him extremely drowsy. He further shared that his doctor had advised him to take a 2-month break from work, but he had ignored the recommendation because he was working on a contractual role and feared losing his source of income.

Empathy in workplace

When the manager asked why he did not inform her or the HR department about the issue, the employee admitted that he was worried the company would terminate his contract. Rather than reprimanding him, the manager responded with empathy. She told the employee to focus on his recovery, stressing that work should never come at the cost of one's health.


In conclusion, the manager reminded him that ‘your work is not your life’ and that ‘no job is worth dying for.’ She also granted the employee a 2-month break, as suggested by his doctor and assured him that his position would be waiting for him upon his return. Overwhelmed by the unexpected support and kindness, the employee was unable to hold back his tears. The post ended on a positive note, with the employee returning to work healthier and in a much better mental state than before.