‘I’m on Leave, Bye’—Indian Employee’s Mic-Drop Mail to Boss Has the Internet in Stitches

A Gen Z employee’s straightforward email notifying their boss of an upcoming leave has ignited a lively discussion on social media. Investor Siddharth Shah shared a screenshot of the email on X, captioning it, “How my Gen Z team gets its leaves approved.”

Instead of following the traditional format of requesting permission, the employee’s email takes a direct, no-nonsense approach. The brief message skips any justification or request for approval, simply stating their plan to be absent.

The email reads: “Hi Siddharth, I will be on leave on 8th November 2024. Bye.”

Viral Reaction and Mixed Opinions

Shared just a day ago, the post has since gone viral, amassing over 1.2 million views and sparking hundreds of comments on X (formerly Twitter). Opinions were split, with some commenters surprised by the casual tone, while others considered it entirely acceptable. The main debate centered around whether employees should seek approval for leave or just inform their managers.

One commenter shared, “If I had sent this message to my manager, he would have scheduled a meeting with HR to discuss my behaviour issues.”

Others argued for a more relaxed approach. “Normalise this. People shouldn’t have to give reasons if they want to take an off. It’s their right,” another user remarked.

Atul Sharma, an X user, agreed, saying, “This is not bad. People in my office has planned leaves in their signature and teams status. It’s others’ responsibility to check and make themselves aware about it. We shouldn’t be making fuss about people going on leaves they are entitled to.”

Approval or Just a Heads-Up?

While many supported the idea of employees taking their earned leaves without needing formal approval, critics maintained that seeking permission is necessary to ensure team coordination. As one user, Puja, pointed out, “You work in a team. And your boss/manager needs to manage your absence.”

Another user elaborated, “Most companies don’t deny leave applications. However, depending on the job, team size and skill set, a certain level of planning is required to keep this running smoothly. Other than it being an HR policy to apply for leave, it’s also basic etiquette to everyone involved.”

Responding to comments about “toxic” companies, an X user noted that even in Europe, where labor laws are strict, leave approval is still required. “I live in Europe where labour laws are very strict …even here you have to get your leaves approved and they can be rejected..if someone still goes ahead and takes off despite rejection, they can be fired,” they said.