Took two days office leave in a year, ended up losing all his work: Techie shares how boss planned revenge against him

Stories of employees being penalised for prioritising personal time over extended work hours continue to surface across corporate India, especially in high-pressure sectors like IT. A recent Reddit post has added to this growing conversation, with an employee alleging professional retaliation after taking only two days of personal leave in an entire year.

The anonymous employee, who shared the experience on the r/IndianWorkplace subreddit, said he has over four years of experience in the IT industry and a strong track record. According to the post, the employee had previously received multiple internal awards, certifications for timely delivery, and recognition for exceeding quality benchmarks across different projects.

However, the situation reportedly changed after joining the current project. The employee claimed that from the outset, the team was encouraged to work beyond official hours, sometimes late into the night. The poster said he declined to do so, citing a medical condition and a personal commitment to working strictly within approved hours.

Tension Over Long Hours and Team Dynamics

The employee alleged that this decision led to repeated friction with his manager. According to the post, the manager reacted angrily when the employee refused to extend work hours and later spoke to him rudely during daily stand-up meetings. The employee also claimed he was frequently interrupted or prevented from speaking in team discussions.


The post further alleged that the employee was given a disproportionate workload. Tasks assigned to junior team members were reportedly redirected to him due to his technical expertise. When questioned, the manager allegedly justified this by stating that other team members lacked the required skills, despite continuing to retain him on the project.

Leave Request Becomes Flashpoint

The dispute escalated when the employee informed the manager about a plan to take three days of personal leave, with a week’s notice. The manager reportedly responded by saying the project was in a critical phase and that three days was excessive, though two days could have been considered.

The employee said he reduced the leave to two days and completed all assigned deliverables in advance, including additional tasks beyond his expected workload. After informing the manager via an internal messaging platform and leaving town, the employee claimed the response he received was unexpectedly hostile.

According to the post, the manager stated that the leave had not been approved and questioned why the employee proceeded without explicit consent. Shortly afterward, the employee received a detailed six-page email outlining alleged concerns and was removed from the project.

The employee also claimed this was not an isolated incident. According to the post, at least two other team members had previously been removed from projects under similar circumstances. The manager was also accused of frequently highlighting her own workload and role in coordination during such situations.

Reddit Users Urge Caution, Suggest Moving On

The post drew several responses from Reddit users, many of whom advised against pursuing legal action. Commenters warned that legal disputes could create complications during background verification processes, as companies often seek feedback from previous employers.

Others suggested escalating the matter to HR but noted that legal remedies may be limited. Several users described the removal from the project as a potential opportunity to exit what he viewed as a toxic environment, encouraging the employee to focus on finding a new role instead.