Workplace empathy—or the lack of it—has become a hot topic online after a shocking post by an MNC employee went viral on Reddit. The techie, whose one-year-old daughter had just undergone surgery, shared how his manager insisted he handle a client presentation despite him being on care leave and emotionally drained. The post has struck a chord with thousands, sparking a heated debate on corporate culture and management in India.
The employee explained that his daughter’s operation left him mentally and emotionally exhausted, and though he had applied for leave, his manager still pressured him to present to a client because he was the “only one who knew the project details.” With doctors and nurses frequently entering the room during his child’s recovery, he said he couldn't participate. “My child is more important than your high-value project,” he wrote, adding that he had asked a colleague to step in to avoid saying something harsh.
The techie also revealed that he had resigned earlier due to his manager’s behaviour but was later retained by another team within the same company, where he plans to move next month.
Internet reacts
The story has ignited a storm online. Some users lashed out at corporate managers, calling them MBA types who thrive by setting unrealistic deadlines and making life miserable for their teams without actually understanding the work or the people doing it. Others felt that the problem wasn’t with MBA degrees themselves, but rather with the manager’s complete lack of empathy. They argued that in such a situation, the manager could have easily spoken to the client about what was happening or asked another team member to step in for the presentation.
Many also criticised the way MBA-style management often works in practice. They said it produces leaders who are great at throwing around buzzwords like strategic alliance or thought leadership but poor at handling people in real situations. These managers were described as out of touch with the realities of the workplace, more focused on jargon and optics than on genuine leadership.
Commenters went on to argue that this style of management often results in harmful cost-cutting measures and heavy delegation, pushing the workload of several people onto a handful of employees. As a result, entry-level staff are left overburdened and stuck with salaries that don’t match the pressure they face.
The employee explained that his daughter’s operation left him mentally and emotionally exhausted, and though he had applied for leave, his manager still pressured him to present to a client because he was the “only one who knew the project details.” With doctors and nurses frequently entering the room during his child’s recovery, he said he couldn't participate. “My child is more important than your high-value project,” he wrote, adding that he had asked a colleague to step in to avoid saying something harsh.
The techie also revealed that he had resigned earlier due to his manager’s behaviour but was later retained by another team within the same company, where he plans to move next month.
Internet reacts
The story has ignited a storm online. Some users lashed out at corporate managers, calling them MBA types who thrive by setting unrealistic deadlines and making life miserable for their teams without actually understanding the work or the people doing it. Others felt that the problem wasn’t with MBA degrees themselves, but rather with the manager’s complete lack of empathy. They argued that in such a situation, the manager could have easily spoken to the client about what was happening or asked another team member to step in for the presentation.
Many also criticised the way MBA-style management often works in practice. They said it produces leaders who are great at throwing around buzzwords like strategic alliance or thought leadership but poor at handling people in real situations. These managers were described as out of touch with the realities of the workplace, more focused on jargon and optics than on genuine leadership.
Commenters went on to argue that this style of management often results in harmful cost-cutting measures and heavy delegation, pushing the workload of several people onto a handful of employees. As a result, entry-level staff are left overburdened and stuck with salaries that don’t match the pressure they face.
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