A Reddit post recently went viral after an employee shared that his manager asked him to work remotely from the hospital while his wife was in labour, sparking a nationwide debate about employee rights and workplace boundaries.
The man had requested two days of leave to be with his wife during childbirth, but his manager asked him either to delay the leave or continue working from the hospital. This incident triggered widespread outrage on social media and drew attention to the challenges employees face when balancing urgent family obligations with workplace demands.
Workplace Boundaries and Compassion
The employee posted screenshots of his conversation with the manager, who suggested the employee’s parents could manage instead of taking leave.
The manager said working from the hospital room would not require much effort, implying the employee should prioritise work over family. This reaction led many social media users and labour experts to condemn the manager’s lack of empathy.
Human resource professionals stress that compassionate management is crucial, especially during life-changing moments such as childbirth, and that workplace policies should support employees rather than pressure them to compromise personal emergencies.
Labour activists also note that such incidents are symptomatic of a wider trend within Indian workplaces of blurred boundaries and unrealistic expectations on availability, which adversely affect employee mental health and family life.
Though India’s new labour codes enhance worker protections, gaps remain in their implementation and enforcement. These cases underline the need for clear company policies that respect urgent family leave without undue pressure or penalty.
Context of Labour Laws and Employee Rights in India
India’s labour landscape is currently evolving, with new Labour Codes effective from November 2025 that unify and update 29 existing laws. These codes introduce clearer definitions of workforce categories, enhance social security benefits, and provide more structured grievance redressal mechanisms.
They also legitimise flexible working arrangements like remote work but reinforce the importance of mutual consent between employer and employee. Despite these reforms, challenges remain in ensuring effective enforcement of employee leave rights, especially during family emergencies, and in protecting workers from subtle workplace coercion.
Experts advocate for a stronger legal framework, including explicit protections for employees to disconnect from work during personal crises without fear of reprisal.
Impact on Work Culture and the Demand for Change
This incident shines a light on broader issues related to the erosion of personal boundaries in Indian workplaces, where many employees feel compelled to remain constantly available. Studies note that over 40% of workers experience difficulty separating work from personal life due to vague organisational expectations.
The employee’s account echoed the concern that job security pressures prevent workers from prioritising their personal lives. Calls have intensified for companies to adopt mandatory family-leave policies that respect urgent life events and for better managerial training to handle such sensitive situations humanely.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Logical Indian believes workplaces must embrace empathy and respect for human dignity above relentless productivity demands. Expecting employees to sacrifice family emergencies for work undermines not only their well-being but also long-term organisational health.
Compassionate leadership and firm policies protecting employee leave during critical personal moments are essential for fostering trust and morale.
My company ignored my leave request during my wife’s pregnancy
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