Delhi Employee Denied Work From Home After Facing Health Issues Due To Pollution, Chat With Manager Goes Viral

As November arrives, toxic air has once again pushed Delhi residents and the government to their limits. While residents try to combat pollution with air purifiers and masks, the government implements various measures like sprinkling water and issuing guidelines. However, for one corporate employee, the fight was not just against pollution but also against workplace rigidity.

As the capital remained shrouded in dangerous smog and health advisories urged people to stay indoors, this employee sent a simple request to her manager: permission to work from home until conditions improved. What happened next, however, was far distant from the empathy many expected during a public health crisis. Instead, she says she was met with dismissiveness. She shared parts of the conversation online, sparking debate about how Indian workplaces prioritize productivity over well-being, even during environmental disasters. Here’s what happened:

AI-generated

The boss rejected the employee’s request to work from home due to air pollution

It was on r/IndianWorkplace that a 25-year-old Delhi-based Redditor recently shared her ordeal, showing that toxic air in the city wasn’t the only thing making it hard for her to breathe; workplace rigidity was also a factor. She had been experiencing an unbearable headache, likely caused by the worsening AQI, for two days straight. Still, she went to the office and stayed until 8:45 p.m. to complete her tasks.

When her symptoms worsened, she made a very reasonable request: to work from home for just one day. Not a leave, not a day off—just the chance to avoid the polluted commute while staying productive.

What happened next probably stunned many. She texted her senior about her condition and asked for WFH, saying,

Sir I’ve been having constant headache since 2 days and it’s aggravating, probably cause of the pollution. Request if I can get Work from Home for today.

However, the response she got on this can make your blood boil. Her boss replied to her, saying,

Everyone is suffering from the pollution. We all have constant pain and headaches. We have to live with this.

She then explained that her headache had intensified and was affecting her ability to work properly. She wrote,

No sir since yesterday it’s been more than that. I wanted to take short leave yesterday because of the same issue but the work commitments didn’t allow so, infact I left for home at quarter to 9. I have been facing and handling this but it’s getting quite aggravated and hampering with my activities which is why the request. Request if you can allow the possibility for today.

But her manager stuck to his stance. He said WFH wasn’t possible because others were coming to the office. Her senior’s reply was,

Work from home would be difficult on this issue. Since, all others are coming to office. Continue with your work commitments and mark a mail to HR and CC for taking off due to pollution issue. ** is on top priority today. Need to conclude.

The employee clarified she didn’t want a day off, just to avoid worsening health and delays in her project. She responded,

Sir I understand your point and agree with you. I’ve also been coming to office. I requested for today because my health was deteriorating and pollution might be a probable cause, but the issue is headache. If it was unbearable, I would’ve taken a 4off for resting, but don’t want to hamper the work deadlines and hence requested for Work from home.

The manager responded with yet another comparison, saying,

It’s not about you only. I have severe headache, just like you. We have no option, the entire city is choking. It’s better to be at home than to be at the office. See, you put a mail mentioning the reasoning, will escalate internally. If it’s accepted, WFH will be marked or if not then otherwise.

The user also shared that management had ignored repeated requests for air purifiers for over a week. Despite appalling air quality affecting employees’ health visibly, even a single day of remote work was dismissed as unreasonable.

Have a look at the original post:

Denied WFH despite health issues from Delhi pollution and asked to ‘take Leave and complete work’
byu/Dazzling_Delivery_96 inIndianWorkplace

How did people react online?

The post quickly went viral on social media, with many people expressing outrage at the manager’s attitude. Many viewed it as a clear example of how Indian workplaces ignore health issues. Others criticized the managers’ flawed empathy, where they think, “If I can suffer, you should too.” Several users suggested that the employee take sick leave without needing detailed explanations. Here’s what people said:

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