‘This shows your seriousness': Boss's scathing reply to unpaid intern's leave request for emergency goes viral

Time of India

3 days ago

A post recently surfaced on Reddit that reignited discussions about workplace toxicity , especially concerning the treatment of interns. A user shared a disturbing incident involving a friend who was serving as an unpaid intern under an Indian manager. The friend, despite receiving no monetary compensation, was reportedly burdened with excessive duties and held to unrealistic expectations. The intern requested a day off due to a family emergency, but instead of empathy, she was reprimanded.The Reddit user attached a screenshot of the WhatsApp conversation between the intern and her superior to substantiate the claim. In the message, the intern expressed regret for the late notice and informed her manager that she wouldn't be able to report to work that day due to both of her parents being severely unwell and confined to bed rest. She also reassured the manager that she would deliver her pending work—the edited runway videos—later that day.However, the manager's response showed little understanding. Instead of acknowledging the gravity of the situation, he responded curtly, implying that the intern's sudden leave just days before a significant event reflected poorly on her sense of commitment. He noted that her absence demonstrated a lack of seriousness, leaving the intern feeling humiliated for prioritizing a family emergency over her unpaid professional obligations."When you are interning somewhere, there is a responsibility too...3 days before a big event, you go missing...anyways, your choice...this shows seriousness towards your work," read his comment.The post ignited a storm of reactions across Reddit. Users were quick to criticize the manager's unempathetic attitude and the broader culture of exploitative internships . Many pointed out that unpaid interns should not be given mission-critical tasks to begin with. Several users also highlighted that expecting unwavering dedication from interns while refusing to treat them as valued contributors reflects deep flaws in management practices.One user stressed that if the absence of an intern is enough to derail major operations, then the organization has structural issues and shouldn't be relying so heavily on unpaid labor. Another user expressed frustration over the normalized expectation that interns should forgo personal emergencies in order to prove their dedication. They added that even the harshest managers typically permit emergency leaves—this case stood out for its unusually harsh response.Many comments also emphasized that needing to take care of one's family during a crisis is entirely justified, regardless of employment status. They encouraged workers—interns and employees alike—to take leave without guilt when it comes to family emergencies. The consensus was clear: when an organization lacks backup planning and penalizes interns for having a personal life, the fault lies squarely with the employer, not the intern.