A social media post by an Indian employee describing an insensitive response from their boss during a medical emergency has gone viral, reigniting conversations around workplace empathy and toxic corporate culture.
The post, shared on X (formerly Twitter), was titled “Told my boss I couldn’t breathe and she says ‘But we have deadlines’” and quickly struck a chord with thousands of users.
‘I honestly couldn’t breathe’
According to the employee, the incident occurred just five minutes before their shift was scheduled to end. Experiencing difficulty breathing, they told a colleague they needed to see a doctor and could not complete the task at hand.
Instead of understanding, the colleague reportedly insisted on finishing deadlines and asked the employee to inform the boss. The employee claimed that the deadline was declared only after they expressed their inability to continue working.
‘Employees are not machines’
The boss’s response, as recounted in the post, left the employee deeply demoralised. “But we have deadline. Take rest and do early morning tomorrow,” the boss allegedly said.
The employee wrote that such reactions made them feel their superior did not see employees as human beings capable of falling genuinely ill. “Sometimes I feel my boss does not understand employees are humans… not machines,” the post read.
They further lamented the lack of compassion in their workplace, adding that those with understanding bosses were “lucky” in today’s corporate environment.
Social media backs health over hustle
As the post gained traction, users across platforms rallied in support of the employee, urging them to prioritise health over artificial urgency created by deadlines.
One user commented, “Health over hustle. No point earning more if you’re not fit to enjoy it.” Another wrote, “Everything is urgent in corporate. Work at your pace and only when you’re healthy.”
Others pointed out that companies often exaggerate urgency to pressure employees, noting that replacing staff is far more time-consuming than granting short-term flexibility.
Spotlight on workplace stress
The episode has once again highlighted growing concerns around workplace stress, burnout and the need for empathetic leadership in India’s corporate sector. Experts have repeatedly warned that ignoring medical emergencies can have serious consequences for both employees and organisations.
As conversations around mental and physical wellbeing gain prominence, the viral post serves as a reminder that deadlines should never come at the cost of basic human care.