Imagine this: A man rushes to be with his wife in the hospital as she goes into labour. He asks his manager for two days off to be there with her and the newborn. But shockingly, his manager tells him to either delay his leave or work from the hospital! The manager even said, “You won’t have to do anything anyway.” Ouch! This isn’t a scene from a drama; it’s a real story shared on Reddit by the employee himself. The post, titled “My company ignored my leave request during my wife’s pregnancy,” quickly got 1,100 upvotes and 259 comments. The man explained how instead of support, he faced awkward questions like whether his parents could handle the situation. He felt stuck, unable to focus on his wife and baby due to fear for his job and money worries. Social media users exploded with criticism for the callous manager. Many told the employee to boldly use official leave without fuss. "Work will always be there, but the birth of a child is a one-time moment," one comment said. Others warned that while work consequences exist, missing family milestones may cause deep regret. This incident lit up talks about “work-life balance” and respect for employees’ personal lives. Experts say Indian workplaces still struggle with empathy. Old-school bosses often see employees’ personal needs as interruptions. Leaders who once sacrificed family time themselves expect the same from staff. Plus, since raises and job security depend on managers, workers rarely set boundaries. Not all managers are trained in handling sensitive issues either. The blurring line between office and home caused by technology makes things worse. Experts advise staff to insist on official leave for major events like childbirth and involve HR if managers pressure them. They emphasize that moments like welcoming a child are non-negotiable. This viral Reddit story shows many share the same painful experiences with unsympathetic bosses. It’s a wake-up call for companies to change. Treating life’s biggest events as non-disruptive is key to winning trust and loyalty of employees. And as the post ends, the question lingers: "Has anyone else gone through something like this?" The rush of similar stories says yes — and change is long overdue.