A conversation between an employee and his manager has gone viral on social media, and has ignited a debate over workplace flexibility during extreme weather conditions.
The matter came to light after a user on the r/Pune subreddit posted a screenshot of a WhatsApp chat between his friend and the friend's manager.
The user shared it with caption "Was asking if he should resign." Till Saturday post has attracted over 2.4K upvotes and more than 250 comments.
During the conversation, the employee told his manager that he could not come to the office due to severe rainfall and road blockages.
The manager allegedly suggested he use public transportation instead and rejected his request to work from home, noting that other staff members had still managed to reach the office despite the weather conditions.
Manager's response to his request left him wondering whether he should continue or quit his job.
Manager's reply - Hi, take public transport. I cannot approve it. We have all travelled and come to work. People have travelled by local trains to get to work. Take a rickshaw or an Uber to it, but make it work," the manager replied.
The screenshots quickly spread across social media, triggering criticism from many users who felt the response did not adequately address employee safety.
Afterward, several Reddit users weighed in on the matter. One user urged, "Reveal the company name," while another asked, "Why can't work from home be an option?"
Others argued that organisations should establish clear rules for remote work or taking leave during severe weather, instead of allowing individual managers to decide on a case-by-case basis.
Some social media users also wondered if the episode had been exaggerated to drive online engagement.
