Techie fired for not responding to boss’s messages on holiday: ‘Phone didn’t have signal’

Techie fired for missing boss’s message on holiday. (Image: Unsplash)

A software developer’s Reddit post has drawn attention after he claimed that missing a manager’s message during the Christmas and New Year holidays led directly to his sudden layoff.

A 29-year-old software developer shared his experience on the subreddit r/gurgaon, stating that he had been laid off simply because he did not reply to work messages during the Christmas and New Year break. According to the post, he had been travelling in a remote, high-altitude location where there was no mobile network for several days. Despite the period being an official holiday for all employees, the developer said his absence from communication had upset his manager and had ultimately cost him his job.

What troubled him further was the lack of due process. He claimed that he had not been placed on a performance improvement plan (PIP), nor had he been given any verbal or written warning before being asked to leave. According to the developer, the decision had been driven not by his work output, but by what he described as a bruised ego.

“I don't have any backup source of income. I wasn't even given any warning or any PIP. The only thing that hurts them is that I hadn't replied to their message during this Christmas & New Year holiday, as it was a holiday for all and I was enjoying somewhere out of the city. For a few days, my phone didn't have any signal due to high altitude; they thought I switched off my phone intentionally (creep management thoughts). Basically, it's their ego that landed me in this scenario (sic),” the techie wrote.

The developer also expressed anxiety about the possibility of facing further trouble after his exit. Soon after the termination, he began searching for new opportunities. However, he described the current hiring environment as unforgiving, especially with rising expectations around skills linked to artificial intelligence and automation.

“After this incident, I've updated my LinkedIn and Naukri profiles and started applying everywhere I can. Trying not to panic in front of anyone. The job market feels brutal, especially after the AI market became more competitive. I'd have to prepare for the IVs as these days everyone needs a candidate with knowledge of everything, even if there's no need for that skill in the organization (sic),” he added.

Laid off from Software Job just bcz I didn't responded to manager's message during holiday byu/No_Guide_4276 ingurgaon

The post quickly gained attention on Reddit and other social media platforms, where users shared their own experiences and opinions. Several netizens argued that while companies officially declare holidays, employees are often expected to remain available at all times.

One user wrote, “It's sad to accept, but somewhere we're still slaves when it comes to jobs. So the best option is to follow what's in line with the company/culture or the manager in this case, or be so good that they can't replace you, or if they can, we can find another job sometime. I understand the pain & sadness here, but sadly, this is slavery we praise. (sic)”

Another user highlighted the power imbalance between managers and employees, pointing to ego-driven leadership as a common issue. “Indian managers have extremely fragile egos. But since they hold a lot of power and influence over the senior leadership. If you challenge the manager's ego. He will make you pay for it. I have experienced it myself in 2024. The best way is to avoid a conflict until absolutely necessary (sic),” the comment read.

Some users suggested that the layoff may not have been entirely sudden. One commenter claimed the developer may have already been under scrutiny, and the missed messages simply provided a convenient excuse. “You were on their hit list to fire, but they were looking for a reason, and they just got a little reason to fire you (sic),” the user wrote.

The techie responded by explaining that his past behaviour may have contributed to unrealistic expectations. He said, “Actually, I was replying to their messages on weekends as well, so they expected the same for each time. But this time, I wasn't able to reply due to a real reason, and they rewarded me with this (sic).”

Disclaimer: The above incident has been reported based on an unverified Reddit post. Moneycontrol has not independently verified the claims.