An Indian company has sparked widespread criticism online after an employee claimed on Reddit that the firm has discontinued its casual and sick leave policies.
According to the post, the revised policy offers only 12 days of annual leave, while any health-related absence now requires formal hospital documentation. The employee shared a screenshot of an internal Slack message, allegedly sent by the company’s HR department, titled “Important Leave Policy Update.”
The message informed employees that casual leave and sick leave had been withdrawn “to streamline and better align with our current work culture.”
Under the new rules, staff can avail:
- Annual Paid Leave: Credited at one day per month, totalling 12 days a year, usable for personal time off or vacations.
- Hospitalisation Leave: Granted only in medical emergencies requiring hospital admission, credited as six days a year—three days in January and three in July—and approved only on submission of valid hospital documents such as admission or discharge papers.
Explaining the change, the HR note said the update was meant to bring “more clarity and consistency” to the leave structure and encouraged employees to reach out for clarification.
The policy quickly drew sharp reactions on social media. One Reddit user sarcastically asked, “There should be a ‘deathbed leave’ that you can apply for on your last day of life.” Another commented, “You are entitled to casual and sick leave under the Shops and Establishment Act. This sounds illegal.”
Others questioned the practicality of the decision. “So what if someone just has a cold? Looks like it’s time to start looking for another job,” one user wrote. Another pointed out, “Sick leave exists for a reason. If someone with the flu is forced to come to work, the whole office suffers. Sick leave protects companies too, not just employees.”
The post has reignited debate around employee rights, workplace health and the legality of such leave policies in India.