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A Delhi employee’s request to work from home due to deteriorating health due to the city’s hazardous air quality was rejected by her manager, sparking a widespread debate online about workplace empathy during Delhi’s pollution crisis.
The employee shared screenshots of the exchange in a viral Reddit post titled “Refusing WFH despite health issues from Delhi pollution.” In the post, the user said he had been battling severe headaches for two days amid the capital’s toxic AQI levels, but he continued going to the office – even staying in the office till 8:45 pm the previous day due to a project deadline.
When he finally asked to work from home for a day instead of taking leave, the manager reportedly responded that “everyone is suffering from pollution” and that allowing WFH would be “difficult” as other employees were commuting.
The Reddit user also claimed that they had been requesting an air purifier in the office for over a week, but the management refused without giving any clear reason.
“It is incomprehensible to me how basic health concerns are being sidelined like this,” the user wrote, questioning whether it was “too much to expect sympathy” when they were still willing to work despite illness.
internet reactions
The post quickly gained popularity, with many users responding to the manager and urging the employee to switch to a more supportive workplace.
One commenter wrote, “It’s disgusting that he pulled the ‘I get headaches too’ card. How dare you when he doesn’t rest!”
Another said, “What’s the point of sick leave if you still have to work? Ridiculous.”
Some offered practical advice, suggesting that employees formally document the issue. One user suggested, “Apply for sick leave over email. If he still assigns work, ask him to state it on record and then proceed further.”
Others highlighted the larger issue of living and working in polluted cities. One user wrote, “Empathy feels like a privilege now. North India goes through this every day.” He also said that Bengaluru is also facing increasing dust pollution.
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