A Gen Z employee's unconventional leave request has gone viral online, drawing attention for its candid tone and departure from typical workplace communication. The email, shared as a screenshot, stands out for skipping formal phrases and going straight to a personal explanation.
Instead of the usual corporate language, the message begins, "Hope you're doing okay, because I'm not. Recently, the work environment at the office has been quite tense and it has given me bloating and triggered my skin very badly."
A request with a personal twist
The employee asked for four days off, from April 28 to May 1, framing the leave as part of a broader personal reset. The purpose was clearly stated as time to "recover, reset and become my main character self before the Devil Wears Prada 2 comes out".
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The request also included a detailed plan for the break, blending self-care with preparation for the upcoming film. The employee wrote: "I will use this break to pamper myself, get my nails done and sort my outfit. This movie is not just a movie for me, I literally applied to NIFT because of it, so you know this is serious. Hope you understand."
Corporate world is not ready for GenZ girls pic.twitter.com/JIM8mLfFz1
— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) April 24, 2026
How did people react?
People came up with myriad responses to the post with some calling it "dumb" while others called the Gen Z a completely "different breed" and that the "Devil Wears Prada craze was going out of hand".
"I am pretty sure miranda won’t be happy after reading this," said a user on X.
"Leave approved to watch Devil Wears Prada 2. They are fighting for menstrual leave and they are getting leave to watch series," said one.
Another wrote, "This is stupid. My emails are generally like -
Hello, I will be on leave on 28th April and 1st May. Thanks."
One wrote, "Main character energy loss should be considered a valid reason for leave."
One user called it a "marketing genius".
One lauded the manager and wrote, "May we all get manager like her in our office."
"Meanwhile I’m scared to ask for leave even with fever," said another.
One joked, "If my manager replied like this I’d never leave that job."
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"The bloating + skin trigger as a leave reason is the most honest email ever written in corporate history," said one user on X.
"Iss level ka confidance ho to boss bhi bestie ban jata hai," wrote one.
The message reflects a growing trend among younger professionals to adopt a more direct and personal style in workplace communication. By combining honesty with a casual tone, the email has resonated widely online, sparking conversations around changing office norms and expectations.
