A WhatsApp conversation between a Gen Z employee and his manager has gone viral for highlighting how the younger generation refuses to put up with a toxic work culture. The chat began when the employee informed his boss about the death of his uncle and requested time to be with his family. Instead of showing empathy, the manager reminded him about an imminent client meeting and asked him to attend that first.
Also Read | Bengaluru man spots Rapido rider learning coding mid-ride, internet calls it ‘peak hustle’
‘Death Is a Death’
In the chats, it is seen that he explained, "With all due respect, a death in the family is still a death. He helped raise me, he was practically a second father. You can’t expect me to sit in a meeting pretending everything’s normal." His boss, however, continued to prioritise work. The employee reminded him that one day to mourn was reasonable, that he already worked long hours, late nights, and even during weekends.
Matters reached a head when the manager threatened to mark the leave as unpaid and asked for a death certificate. The employee stood their ground and replied, “No, I’m not. I’m standing up for something basic human decency. If you can’t understand that, maybe I’m working for the wrong person.”
Manager faces backlash
The manager concluded the conversation by saying that the employee may not work in the company anymore and pressed for involvement from HR. The X (formerly Twitter) post accompanying the screenshot read, “Only Gen-Z can change the toxic Indian Work Culture. Salute to this guy.”
Social Media praises courage
The post received an outpouring of support online. One user commented, “Any boss who says, 'client won’t wait' when someone’s relative has died shouldn’t be managing people; he should be managing Excel sheets in a dark room where no human interaction is required.” Another added, “Clients are actually quite understanding. It’s the employer/manager who has an issue.”
Also Read | Can a derogatory word be reclaimed? Divija Bhasin’s ‘Proud R’ movement sparks debate
Others shared personal experiences, underlining how empathetic management creates loyal teams. One wrote, “I manage 11 people team and these kind of issues comes often. I still remember that for many members, I approved an emergency vacation by explaining the situation to top management. If I request my team for any kind of work, they are always ready to help me. Never let me down. It’s mutual.”
