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In an era where conversations around work-life balance are becoming louder, incidents of rigid corporate behaviour continue to surface online, often highlighting the gap between employee expectations and managerial attitudes. One such case, recently shared on Reddit, has drawn widespread attention after an employee revealed how his workplace dismissed his upcoming engagement and marriage as non-essential, insisting he continue working through critical personal milestones.
The employee, a tech professional, described being assigned to a project where every task is treated as urgent. According to his account, the project involves multiple layers of management but little clarity or effective execution. Daily work is dominated by frequent virtual meetings, constant tracking, and an environment of micromanagement that leaves no room for trust or autonomy.
He also pointed to new restrictions introduced by the company, including geo-fencing rules that prevent employees from working beyond a fixed distance from the base location. He claimed that while such controls increased monitoring, they did little to improve productivity, especially when leadership lacked technical involvement.
What stood out most was a remark from a senior project manager, who reportedly dismissed the concern by stating that marriage does not qualify as an emergency. The employee added that his reporting manager remained largely unavailable and unaware of the actual work being done, leaving him with no clear point of support.
In follow-up comments, the employee explained that he had officially applied for leave through the company’s internal system. Despite repeated reminders, the request had not been approved. This created further uncertainty, especially as resigning at this stage could complicate matters related to leave records and notice periods.
Adding to his frustration, the employee noted that he is expected to be released from the project in March, making the sudden urgency around weekend work feel unnecessary and poorly planned.
Others shared personal experiences of being expected to work on wedding days or major family events, while a few highlighted positive examples of managers who actively encouraged employees to disconnect during important life moments.
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He also pointed to new restrictions introduced by the company, including geo-fencing rules that prevent employees from working beyond a fixed distance from the base location. He claimed that while such controls increased monitoring, they did little to improve productivity, especially when leadership lacked technical involvement.
Marriage Plans Shared, But Not Respected
The situation escalated when the employee spoke about his engagement and marriage plans. He stated that he informed his managers nearly two months in advance, expecting work schedules to be adjusted accordingly. Instead, no preparation was made. As the engagement date drew closer, he was asked to work over the weekend.What stood out most was a remark from a senior project manager, who reportedly dismissed the concern by stating that marriage does not qualify as an emergency. The employee added that his reporting manager remained largely unavailable and unaware of the actual work being done, leaving him with no clear point of support.
In follow-up comments, the employee explained that he had officially applied for leave through the company’s internal system. Despite repeated reminders, the request had not been approved. This created further uncertainty, especially as resigning at this stage could complicate matters related to leave records and notice periods.
Adding to his frustration, the employee noted that he is expected to be released from the project in March, making the sudden urgency around weekend work feel unnecessary and poorly planned.
Online Support and Shared Experiences
The post resonated strongly with other professionals on Reddit. Many users criticised the tendency of organisations to label everything as high priority, arguing that it reflects weak planning rather than genuine urgency. Several commenters said that once leave is communicated in advance, the responsibility lies with management to plan resources accordingly.Others shared personal experiences of being expected to work on wedding days or major family events, while a few highlighted positive examples of managers who actively encouraged employees to disconnect during important life moments.
