An employee recently shared an incident highlighting how workplace priorities can sometimes overlook personal well-being. The individual revealed that his manager had requested him to move his long-awaited doctor’s appointment just so he could attend a company event that, according to him, added little real value.
The employee explained that his company had organized a mandatory fair the following week, where attendance was required until 7 p.m., despite the event involving minimal work. He expressed frustration that, for his employer, clocking in long hours seemed more important than actual productivity. After finally managing to secure a medical appointment he had been waiting for, he informed his manager about his partial unavailability on that day. What followed left him both irritated and disheartened.
The shared WhatsApp chat revealed the entire exchange. In the conversation, the employee informed his manager that he would only be available until 4 p.m. on Tuesday due to a doctor’s appointment. The manager responded with concern about the timing, reminding him that the company fair was scheduled for that same day.
When the employee mentioned that he would still try to complete as much work as possible before leaving and could continue working after returning from the appointment around 6:30 p.m., the manager asked whether it was possible to shift the appointment to another day—either earlier in the week or on the weekend. The employee replied that he would check with the doctor. The manager then advised him not to take personal time off during the event week, requesting him once again to confirm if rescheduling was an option.
The incident sparked widespread discussion online, especially after the employee shared his exasperation about being asked to prioritize an event over his health. He mentioned feeling demotivated and even counted down the weeks left before he could leave the company for good.
When the post appeared on Reddit, many users sympathized with the employee’s situation. Several criticized the manager’s insensitivity and argued that medical appointments should always take precedence over work events. One commenter suggested that the employee should have simply informed his superior about the timing of his medical visit without offering to negotiate or reschedule it. According to them, the ideal message should have been concise and professional, mentioning the appointment and specifying the period of unavailability—nothing more, nothing less.
Another user pointed out that agreeing to “ask the doctor” implied flexibility when there might not have been any. They advised that it’s better to assert that medical appointments are difficult to secure and should not be postponed for non-essential work commitments. This perspective resonated strongly with others in the discussion, many of whom shared similar experiences where managers undervalued employees’ personal needs in favor of workplace appearances or arbitrary attendance requirements.
The incident ultimately reignited a familiar debate about work-life balance and the boundaries employees must maintain to safeguard their health and time.
The employee explained that his company had organized a mandatory fair the following week, where attendance was required until 7 p.m., despite the event involving minimal work. He expressed frustration that, for his employer, clocking in long hours seemed more important than actual productivity. After finally managing to secure a medical appointment he had been waiting for, he informed his manager about his partial unavailability on that day. What followed left him both irritated and disheartened.
The shared WhatsApp chat revealed the entire exchange. In the conversation, the employee informed his manager that he would only be available until 4 p.m. on Tuesday due to a doctor’s appointment. The manager responded with concern about the timing, reminding him that the company fair was scheduled for that same day.
When the employee mentioned that he would still try to complete as much work as possible before leaving and could continue working after returning from the appointment around 6:30 p.m., the manager asked whether it was possible to shift the appointment to another day—either earlier in the week or on the weekend. The employee replied that he would check with the doctor. The manager then advised him not to take personal time off during the event week, requesting him once again to confirm if rescheduling was an option.
The incident sparked widespread discussion online, especially after the employee shared his exasperation about being asked to prioritize an event over his health. He mentioned feeling demotivated and even counted down the weeks left before he could leave the company for good.
When the post appeared on Reddit, many users sympathized with the employee’s situation. Several criticized the manager’s insensitivity and argued that medical appointments should always take precedence over work events. One commenter suggested that the employee should have simply informed his superior about the timing of his medical visit without offering to negotiate or reschedule it. According to them, the ideal message should have been concise and professional, mentioning the appointment and specifying the period of unavailability—nothing more, nothing less.
Another user pointed out that agreeing to “ask the doctor” implied flexibility when there might not have been any. They advised that it’s better to assert that medical appointments are difficult to secure and should not be postponed for non-essential work commitments. This perspective resonated strongly with others in the discussion, many of whom shared similar experiences where managers undervalued employees’ personal needs in favor of workplace appearances or arbitrary attendance requirements.
The incident ultimately reignited a familiar debate about work-life balance and the boundaries employees must maintain to safeguard their health and time.
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