'To Take Sick Leave, Inform 7 Days In Advance': Manager's Reply To Employee Asking For Day Off

A bizarre exchange between an Indian manager and an employee over a strict sick leave policy has left social media users scratching their heads. The conversation, captured in a screenshot shared on Reddit, shows the manager informing the employee that sick leaves must be applied seven days in advance.

Confused? So are we. According to the screenshot, the employee informed the manager that he was feeling unwell and needed a day off. “My health is not well, so I won’t be coming to the office,” the employee’s message read.

In response, the manager asked whether the employee intended to take a sick leave. “Sick leave loge toh aaj? (You will take sick leave today, right?)” he asks. Upon confirmation, the manager asserted, “To take sick leave or casual leave you need to inform at least 7 days prior.”

The caption shared along with the post read, “How to know if I am going to be sick in next 7 days? (NOC).”

See the viral post here:

Since being shared online, the post has sparked widespread confusion over the unrealistic sick leave policy. Here’s what the comment section is buzzing with:

One user quipped, “Ask him, do you know if you are going to be sick in the next 7 days?”

Another humorously suggested, “Send an email every day: “This is to inform you that I may get sick seven days from now and may thus need to use sick time,” See how long it takes.”

A sarcastic comment read, “You’re not supposed to know 7 days in advance when your health fails, you’re supposed to take a week to spread your illness to everybody at work because sharing is caring.”

Sharing a personal anecdote, a person wrote, “I used to work in a supermarket. One day I had evening shift. At some point in the early afternoon, I fell down a flight of stairs and had a bruised knee and a minor concussion. I called in sick and got told I needed to come in anyway or be written up because calling in sick must happen before 8 am. Yeah, I’ll schedule falling down the stairs next time.”

“But if you somehow miraculously predict the day you’ll be sick, they will hit you with the “you’re faking it, how did you know you were going to be sick?” another pointed out.

“Go to work. Inform your colleagues that they will be sick next week and that the policy requires them to submit for the sick time today since you are infecting them today,” someone else wittingly suggested.

And a playful comment read, “Just put “my time machine is currently broken so I cannot go back and inform you”. Please can I borrow yours? Then go back and win the lottery & quit.”

What are your thoughts on this firm’s policy?