Calling in sick due to hemorrhoids can already be an embarrassing situation. However, one employee faced an even more uncomfortable scenario when their manager requested “proof” of their medical issue. In a surprising turn of events, the employee decided to comply with the request in a rather unconventional way—by sending a picture of their buttocks.
This unusual incident was shared on Reddit in the antiwork subreddit, a space dedicated to discussions about workplace issues. The employee recounted, “I called out today because I have hemorrhoids and cannot stand for any amount of time. My manager said I need to send him proof, so I sent him a pic of my a*** with the hemorrhoids.”
After sending the picture, the employee expressed uncertainty about the potential repercussions. “Now, thinking about it, I’m not sure if I broke any company rules or laws by sending him the picture (that he asked for). Will I be in trouble with HR or the police if he tells them?” they wondered.
Members of the antiwork community reacted to the post, calling the employee’s response a “power move.” They pointed out that the manager’s request for “proof” could have simply meant a doctor’s note rather than a photo.
However, some commenters warned that sending such an explicit image might not lead to a positive outcome for the employee, even if it was meant as a joke. One user commented, “Instead of using sick time and SDI to recover and find a different job that won’t aggravate their hemorrhoids, they just f***** themselves for the internet points.”
Others chimed in with their own workplace stories. One user shared, “I called out sick once, and my boss wouldn’t stop texting and calling me, trying to get info on what was wrong with me and wouldn’t believe me. So I sent him a pic of me shirtless, hanging over the side of my bathtub with a mountain of vomit inside, all over my face and beard, and asked, ‘Would you like to see the toilet as well?’ He then scolded me, saying that the picture was unnecessary and gross.”
Hemorrhoids, commonly referred to as piles, are swollen veins in or around the anus or rectum. Those affected often experience pain and discomfort, especially during bowel movements.