AND Reddit A post shared on popular forum r/developersIndia sparked a debate about workplace boundaries, paternity leave and toxic management practices – striking a chord with thousands of people online.
A post written by a software engineer who recently became a father details a deeply disturbing situation. According to the user, his newborn baby – born prematurely – had to be admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) due to respiratory complications. Despite informing his manager of the situation, he claims he was still asked to take phone calls and handle work assignments while on vacation.
“I became a father a few days ago…my baby was a prime…admitted to the NICU,” the user wrote, noting that he had already informed HR and his manager months in advance of his planned two-week paternity leave.
“I applied for a job even though he was on vacation”
The user alleged that his manager not only ignored his vacation, but also repeatedly pressured him, including by referring to past performance discussions. He claimed that during a previous personal emergency — when his pregnant wife was hospitalized — he was asked to work until 3 a.m. despite not being an addict.
Despite delivering a “business-critical application with zero bugs”, he said his performance rating was limited to “meets expectations”.
This time, however, he decided to push. “The last time I put work over my family, it wasn’t appreciated. Why should I do it again?” he wrote, adding that his manager responded with statements such as “anyone can replace you”.
The Internet Responds: “Your Child Comes First”
The post quickly gained attention, with users recommending and expressing concern over the situation.
One user wrote: “Bhai first of all congrats and take care of your baby that’s priority #1. NICU situation hai nothing coming.” The commenter advised the new father to document all communications and formally escalate the matter to HR if necessary.
Another added: “That anyone can replace you is a classic pressure tactic, don’t fall for it. Recruiting takes money and time.”
Some users also highlighted differences in paternity leave policies around the world. “Only two weeks of paternity leave… colleagues in Europe get months,” read one comment.
Others took a more direct stance, urging the employee to set firm boundaries. One user suggested avoiding all work communications while on vacation, stating, “When you’re on vacation, don’t engage in calls or messages. Set an absent reply and stick to it.”
A more critical response pointed to wider systemic problems: “The money you earn won’t give you a break… it’s not worth working there.”
(This report is based on user-generated content from social media. Livemint has not independently verified and does not endorse these claims.)
