He requested office leave after father's death. Boss denies it and says 'start going to the gym' instead

A post shared on the social media platform Reddit has led to a strong reaction online after a worker claimed his boss refused to grant him time off following the death of his father. The user said he was struggling with grief weeks after the funeral but instead of receiving support, he was given advice that many readers found insensitive. The post quickly went viral, with several comments from people discussing workplace policies around grief and sharing their own experiences of bereavement leave.

Worker says boss rejected request for time off

In the post, a Reddit user explained that he had asked his boss for time away from work because he was still dealing with the emotional impact of losing his father. According to the user, the request was not taken seriously. He wrote: “Asked my boss for some time off to deal with grief after my dad died.”

The situation became more upsetting for him after the response he says he received from his manager. “He denied my request, made a joke about how much work there is for us to do, told me to start going to the gym, and gave me a card to contact a grief counselor,” the user wrote. The post ended with the user expressing frustration about the situation, writing, “I'm so sick of this life.”


In a reply to another comment, the original poster explained that his workplace had already granted him the company’s standard bereavement leave, which lasted only a few days. “We have a 3 day bereavement policy, which I used for the funeral. Now, a month later, I'm having some mental health issues from grief and it's a tremendous chore to do anything other than lay on the couch,” he added.

Internet reacts strongly to the boss’s response

The story triggered a wave of reactions from other Reddit users, many of whom criticised the boss’s behaviour and expressed sympathy for the worker. One commenter wrote bluntly: “Your boss can fuck all the way off.”

Another user replied to that comment, adding: “Further than all the way.” Some people shared suggestions on how the worker might deal with the situation. One commenter suggested going to work but openly talking about the loss to highlight the issue.

“Go to work. Cry all day non stop if you can. Tell everyone you come into contact with that your dad just died and they won’t give you any time off to grieve,” the person wrote. They added that making others aware might create pressure on the company.

Others focused on practical options. A user asked whether the worker could access extended leave through official channels, writing: “Could you go to your PCP and ask them to complete FMLA paperwork so you can take some time.” Several commenters agreed that the leave option under the Family and Medical Leave Act might allow time off for mental health reasons related to grief.

The discussion also turned into a conversation about workplace policies for bereavement leave. Several users said that three days off after the death of a parent felt far too short. One commenter wrote: “Three days for the loss of your dad is ridiculous.” Another person shared a similar experience, saying grief often becomes stronger weeks or months after a loss and that returning to work too quickly can make it harder to cope.

Some users also advised the worker to consider other options, including speaking to a doctor, seeking counseling, or eventually looking for another job if the situation at work does not improve.