'We don't work weekends, so no holiday': Manager's logic after cancelling official holiday leaves internet fuming

An agitated employee recently shared his frustration on Reddit, criticizing his manager’s sudden and unreasonable decision. His post, which quickly went viral on the Indian Workplace subreddit, described how employees had been granted a holiday on November 5, 2025. Everyone was excited, having already made personal plans for the day.

However, just before the break, their manager abruptly cancelled the holiday, claiming that since employees already had weekends off, they didn’t deserve another day of rest. The employee expressed disbelief over the inconsistency, pointing out how the management always insisted on following official rules—except when those rules benefited the staff. Working in a Mumbai-based fintech company with banks as clients, he noted that most of their clients were on leave, leaving him confused about what work he was supposed to accomplish.

In a follow-up update, the employee mentioned that he still reported to the office but spent his time idly scrolling through Instagram and YouTube, replying to occasional emails, and attending meetings without participation. He said that many of his colleagues were doing the same, silently protesting against what they saw as an unfair and demotivating decision.

The post triggered a strong response from Reddit users. One commenter blamed such toxic work culture for India’s consistently low ranking on the World Happiness Index, calling it a reflection of a “slave mentality” within corporate structures.

Another user shared a similar experience, saying they were a third-party music teacher at a school that declared a holiday but still required them to show up. They expressed frustration, explaining that their presence served no real purpose since they had no assignments or notebooks to check. The teacher revealed that they had already resigned and planned to leave in two weeks, admitting that six months of corporate life had been enough to convince them that mental peace was more valuable than money.

The thread highlighted a growing sentiment among Indian professionals—many are weary of rigid work systems that prioritize control over compassion, leaving employees demoralized even on days meant for rest.