“Call Me Sir”: Indian Manager’s Outburst Over Sick Leave Message Sparks Heated Debate Online
“Call Me Sir”: Indian Manager’s Outburst Over Sick Leave Message Sparks Heated Debate Online
In a recent viral incident that’s caused quite a stir on Reddit, a manager from India sparked controversy for reprimanding an employee who failed to address him as “sir” in a perfectly polite sick leave message. The situation unfolded over WhatsApp and was later shared on Reddit by a user who claimed it was their friend’s experience. The manager’s reaction, which many deemed unprofessional and ego-driven, has triggered widespread conversation about power dynamics and outdated hierarchical norms in Indian workplaces.
The now-viral chat began innocently enough. The employee messaged his boss to inform him that he wouldn’t be coming in due to an upset stomach. The message read:
“Good morning. I wanted to let you know that I am feeling a bit unwell today due to an upset stomach – probably from something I ate yesterday. I’ve applied for leave on the [redacted] app and informed [redacted] also.”
Instead of acknowledging the leave or wishing the employee well, the manager’s response was vague and confusing:
“Need only today’s update… Yesterday is gone.”
When the employee politely replied that he didn’t understand the message, the manager clarified in broken grammar:
“I don’t need anything related yesterday.”
Still unsure what his manager meant, the employee again asked for clarification—prompting the conversation to take a strange and unexpected turn. The manager veered off-topic and launched into a lecture:
“If you’re here to work.. You should be punctual and do your duty. Plan accordingly. Next week onwards prepare the…” (The rest of the message was redacted.)
The employee, trying to keep the tone light and non-confrontational, replied simply:
“Aa ok.”
That response didn’t sit well with the boss, who then scolded him, saying:
“Reply in a good manner.”
Still calm, the employee responded,
“I’m sorry but may I know what did I say with no manner.”
What followed exposed the real reason for the manager’s frustration:
“You can say ok sir,” the manager wrote bluntly.
“And you have to inform me… not let me know. Try using good words when communicating to a senior manager.”
Ironically, while reprimanding the employee for his tone and language, the manager’s own messages were riddled with grammatical mistakes. As the chat continued, the employee tried to defend his original message, stating he had been polite and clear. But the manager wouldn’t budge:
“You don’t know how to inform in a polite way.”
To “teach” the employee proper etiquette, the manager even gave him a suggested version of the message:
“I want to inform you sir…”
As the conversation neared its end, the manager insisted that the employee share the chat with his coworkers and ask them if it was appropriate—standing firm in his belief that the use of “sir” was not just a preference, but a requirement:
“Say ‘Sir’ when you talk!”
This strange exchange, shared by Reddit user @Lazy_Ad808 on the popular r/IndianWorkplace subreddit under the title “This is a screenshot of my friend’s WhatsApp chat with his manager”, has since gone viral. Garnering nearly 5,000 upvotes and over 1,500 comments, the post opened the floodgates for a larger discussion on professional respect, workplace culture, and India’s deep-rooted obsession with hierarchy.
One commenter highlighted the frustration many feel with such authority-obsessed environments:
“Depends on how fragile the ‘adults’ you’re working with. Unpopular opinion, but I’d say to observe and use sir when you notice other people using sir, ma’am in emails. It’s not worth it picking these fights with such people.”
Another user expressed confusion over the custom entirely:
“Never understood this sir/ma’am culture in some Indian companies.”
The issue seems especially prevalent in domestic firms, with one person noting:
“Worked in only MNCs since the start of my career and still do, and the only managers who like being called sir and ma’am are the ones in India.”
Many users echoed the sentiment that this obsession with titles is a symptom of a larger problem. As one user put it:
“It depends on the person. Those who don’t get respect at home, demand it in the office.”
Another voice chimed in with a different take:
“That’s not true. In my entire office, no one calls anyone ‘Sir’, even the VP. Some organizations really need to adopt a healthier culture.”
And perhaps the most scathing comment came from someone who pulled no punches:
“This is the reality in most companies. These idiots just want to feel powerful. Otherwise, they’re powerless and want others to keep flattering them so they feel important. It’s typical Indian mentality – ‘Respect your elders.’ This manager is a red flag, and this toxic culture is outdated in India.”
While some users offered advice on navigating such situations—like “just play the game and avoid confrontation”—others argued that calling someone “sir” shouldn’t be equated with professionalism or respect, especially when it’s clearly being demanded rather than earned.
