Indian boss's reply to staffer asking for sick leave is viral: 'Trying to be the manager I never had'

A screenshot of the interaction between the manager and the freelance staffer. (Image credit: Reddit)

An Indian manager's post on Reddit revealing how he reacted to an employee's request for leave after being down with viral fever has gone viral for showcasing empathy and professionalism in Indian workplaces. Many online users called the post titled “Trying to be the manager I never had” a stark contrast to stories of toxic management that often dominate workplace discussions on social media.

The manager shared screenshots of his interaction with a freelance web designer who fell ill shortly after starting a project. The designer expressed guilt over delays caused by a birthday celebration, festive commitments, and then a sudden fever. In the shared WhatsApp exchange, the manager is shown to respond with reassurance rather than reprimanding the staffer.

When the designer wrote, “Regret to inform you, I’m suffering from viral fever, would like to take rest. Will it be okay with you?”, the manager replied: “Ofc. Take rest. You shouldn’t ask. You should inform. Take care.” Later, when the designer insisted on working despite being unwell, the manager urged, “No, take a day off. Let’s see tomorrow if you’re alright. Otherwise, rest this week and start Monday if you’re alright. Fevers usually take a full week to wear off. Don’t worry about the time stipulated in the contract.”

The post drew hundreds of reactions praising the manager’s attitude. One Reddit user wrote, “It’s so cool of you! Just make sure people don’t misuse your kindness in any way. Getting work done is also important.” The manager responded candidly: “Yeah, been taken advantage of a few time,s but it’s okay. Good lessons are expensive. I try to go by the saying that people are good by default. So try to find the good in people and excuse the bad until they prove otherwise.”

Another commenter joked that such behavior would seem suspicious in their workplace: “At this point, if my manager suddenly started acting like that, I’d just assume they’re going to kick me out.” The manager replied: “Haha. I’ve been like this with my subordinates/resources since the beginning so they won’t think that way.”