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A Gen Z employee’s blunt response to a manager demanding a doctor’s prescription for sick leave has gone viral, triggering a heated debate on workplace culture and employee rights
A screenshot of a conversation between a manager and an employee regarding sick leave has gone viral on X (Image-AI)
A viral screenshot of a Gen Z employee’s blunt exchange with their manager over taking sick leave has sparked a heated debate online. The conversation, shared on X by user @WhateverVishal, claimed it reflected how some Indian managers respond when employees fall ill.
The conversation begins with the employee informing the manager that they will not be able to come to work because their fever has worsened.
According to the screenshot, the conversation began with the employee informing the manager, “Sir nhai aa paunga fever badh gaya hai.” In response, the manager offered to accompany them to a doctor, saying, “Chlo doctor ke pas chlte hain.”
The employee replied, “Need lagega to btaunga, abhi k liye paracetamol,” indicating they were managing their fever with paracetamol for the time being.
The conversation escalated when the manager added, “Sir director sir ne kaha hai jo b bimar ho usse doctor ki prescription lo ..” Refusing to comply, the employee fired back with a blunt message that has since gone viral: “Mai school student nahi hu sir , leave rahti hai , leave li maine , khud doctor hai wo, bolo mere naam ki prescription bana le . Nahi to prescription, aur leave application with parents signature nahi hai mere pass Aur mai abhi rest kar raha hu, msg y call ka reply nahi karunga.”
Sharing the screenshot, the X user captioned the post, “Indian managers think slaves work under them not employees, Brutal response by GenZ Employee.”
The post soon attracted widespread reactions, with users divided over the employee’s tone as well as the manager’s handling of the situation.
One user wrote, “Had he been working in my company I’d hve instantly fired him and made sure that he doesn’t get a single opportunity for an interview. After that even if he starts any business I will literally spend whatever amount it takes to doom his business in very first week,” expressing strong disapproval of the employee’s response.
Another, however, sided with the employee while also highlighting the misuse of sick leave by some workers. “Am with employee on this one but it’s annoying that Indians think sick leaves are their right and take them even when they’re not sick. I’d rather expect them to inform in advance to delegate the work. And they always get ‘sick’ on Fridays and Mondays,” the user commented.
Some users pointed out that asking for a medical certificate is not uncommon globally. One person wrote, “Actually submitting a doctors prescription is mandatory to take a sick leave in europe and other part of world. Genz in india is over stupidly smart.”
Others questioned the purpose of providing paid leave if employees face hurdles while using it. “What is point of giving 24 to 30 leaves in an year if they are not allowed to use them?” asked another user.
Several commenters also criticised the manager’s approach rather than the company’s policy. “This is not brutal. This is very direct and awesome reply. Manager crossed the line by saying chalo doctor ke chalte hai, he should have asked for well being. Manager is rude here. Also, who knows what director must have felt in past due to wrong habits of employees,” one user wrote.
Another user mocked the workplace by asking, “Kon si jhola chap company hai ye ?”
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