A viral Reddit post has reignited debate over the exploitative work culture faced by interns in India after an unpaid intern was shamed by their boss for requesting emergency leave. The intern, who was working without pay, was denied leave despite citing a family health emergency, drawing widespread criticism on social media.

The post, titled “Boss won’t allow my friend to take emergency leaves as an unpaid intern”, included a screenshot of the conversation between the intern and their boss. In the chat, the intern politely explained the emergency situation, stating, “Sir, I’m really sorry for the short notice. I won’t be able to come in today as my parents are really sick and on bedrest. I need to stay back. I’ll send you the morphed runway videos by today.”

The boss’s response was passive-aggressive, questioning the intern’s commitment: “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.”

Social Media Backlash Against Toxic Work Culture

The exchange quickly went viral, sparking outrage among netizens who criticized the toxic work culture and the exploitation of unpaid interns. Users argued that no employer should deny leave during a family emergency, regardless of the employee’s status.

One Reddit user commented, “If a company collapses because an intern takes a day off, they shouldn’t be hiring interns at all.” Another added, “Stop doing unpaid internships. They are a reflection of poor work culture.”

Others pointed out that any company handling critical communication through WhatsApp is a red flag for potential employees. The incident has sparked calls for better treatment of interns and stricter regulations to prevent such exploitation in the workplace.