Child suffers high fever with seizure, mother says she was asked to work: ‘Shouldn't have had to negotiate’

She also contrasted her experience with that of her husband, who took leave during the same period.

A woman based in Bengaluru has drawn widespread attention online after describing her experience of being asked to continue working while her 15-month-old daughter was seriously unwell.

The woman, who works in customer service, shared her account on Reddit under the caption: “Needed a leave because my daughter was unwell, and this was my manager's response.”

According to her post, her toddler suffered a seizure on Sunday, followed by a high fever that persisted for four days. Concerned about her child’s condition, she contacted her manager — whom she described as someone she regarded as a good friend — to request leave.

Instead of being granted immediate time off, she wrote that she was informed another colleague was already absent. After explaining that her daughter had experienced a seizure, she was reportedly asked to arrange for someone to log in early and to work for several hours herself despite the situation at home.

The woman said she initially managed to take two days away from work. However, when her daughter’s health did not improve, she sought further leave on Wednesday.

“There was another round of negotiation for leave because someone else was again on leave on Wednesday,” she wrote.

She said she was asked whether she could work a half day. Although she first agreed, she later reconsidered and opted to take the entire day off.

“Nothing in the world is as important as my daughter,” she wrote. “I should not have had to explain why I needed leave. I should not have had to negotiate.”

Needed a leave because my daughter was unwell and this was my manager's response by u/Noodlesandsushee in IndianWorkplace

In her post, the woman stated that she is a leading performer within her team and had previously believed that her employer prioritised staff welfare. Reflecting on the episode, she added: “I know where my place is now and how I will be treating work going forward.”

She also contrasted her experience with that of her husband, who took leave during the same period. According to her account, his manager responded with support and even questioned why he had logged in at all while their child remained unwell.

The post prompted strong responses from Reddit users, many of whom criticised the handling of the situation and said that no parent should be required to justify leave during a medical emergency involving a young child.

One user wrote, “Hoping for a world in the future where employees are treated like humans and not just a resource.”

Another commented, “I don't know why you are so surprised man. After working 15 years, such stories rarely surprise me, in fact I would be shocked if the company actually said, go ahead take your leave and spend time with your kid.”

A third said, “You shouldn’t have had to negotiate being a parent in a crisis. Work can wait. Your child can’t.”

Another added, “What a s**t manager dude. You should not be responsible to message another colleague to see if they can cancel leave and join its the manager's job, and should be done as a last resort. These managers are over their heads, when will they understand that life, family, friends come first, work always comes second? These idiots think they're gatekeepers of company.”

The discussion has revived broader debate about workplace expectations, particularly for women balancing professional responsibilities and family care in high-pressure roles. Commenters called for more compassionate management practices and clearer support mechanisms for employees facing urgent family health situations.

Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content shared on social media. The claims have not been independently verified by Moneycontrol.com.