Hyderabad techie says he was asked to work during paternity leave while newborn was in NICU, sparks online backlash

A software professional in Hyderabad has alleged that he was asked to continue working during his approved paternity leave, even as his premature newborn remained in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The claim, shared on Reddit, has drawn sharp reactions from users, with many questioning workplace sensitivity and boundaries in the tech sector.

Employee says work calls continued despite prior notice

In a Reddit post titled “My manager asked me to work during paternity leave despite having informed about it 5 months before”, the employee said he had informed both his manager and HR well in advance about taking two weeks of paternity leave in April.

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He wrote that his child was born prematurely and required NICU care due to breathing issues. Despite this, he said he continued to receive calls and work assignments.

“I informed my manager that this is the situation he still called me and asked me about work and assigning me tasks ( despite me taking leave),” he wrote.

Past incident adds to concerns

The techie said this was not the first time he faced such a situation. He recalled that during his wife’s hospitalisation last year, he was asked to work late into the night without any urgent need.

He added that even after completing a key project, his work was “not at all valued”.

According to the post, when he chose to prioritise his family this time, his manager warned him that such issues should have been raised earlier and that “anyone can replace” him.

“This is purely unprofessional and he is a doing this repeatedly and the company is a one of the major insurance company in the world,” the user concluded.

Why this struck a chord

The post highlights a wider concern among professionals about work-life balance and how companies respond during personal emergencies. While paternity leave policies exist in many firms, employees often say implementation depends on team culture and management behaviour.

The episode has again brought attention to how some employees struggle to disconnect from work even during critical family situations.

Social media reactions

The post triggered strong responses from users, many of whom advised the employee to escalate the issue and maintain boundaries.

“Please take a firm stand, inform HR, and hold a discussion with the stakeholders. If HR is biased toward your manager, please escalate it to HR's immediate senior. STAY FIRM AND DON'T SETTLE AT ANY POINT. You'll see your manager giving up, and this will surely make your life better in the future,” one user wrote.

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“He is a prime example of how low can a person get. Do not entertain him and enjoy these days with your newborn and your wife,” commented another.

“Draw boundaries. Dont take calls. If he removes u let him. I undertand but if this continues it will get worse in case of emergencies. Family is priority number 1. We have to be there for our family. If policy Clearly states leave then take it to hr or senior,” wrote a third user.

“The toxic IT work culture is getting out of hands now. How can someone work before the 2 weeks of delivery phase and it's sometimes uncertain , no one knows the exact date , it's illogical. And making you do his job till 3 am shows , he thinks you are an easy target, you can be a good person , he isn't and , this 2 week leave is proper harassment ! Report it to the hr , leave the company if nothing happens,” said another.

The incident has added to ongoing conversations about workplace expectations in high-pressure sectors. For many online, the message was simple: emergencies at home should not compete with office demands.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on Reddit. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.