He said no to weekend work, had medical emergency but company fired him amid family crisis

Workplace pressures and unreasonable demands on employees have become a growing concern across India, particularly in smaller companies where policies are often rigid and accountability limited. A recent case from Hyderabad has brought this issue into focus, after an employee alleged that he was terminated for refusing to work on weekends while dealing with a serious family medical emergency. The incident has sparked discussions about employee rights, toxic work culture, and the need for stronger labour protections in workplaces nationwide.

Employee Alleges Wrongful Termination
According to the Reddit post, the employee was asked by his director to continue working through weekends and after office hours. When he explained that he was unable to do so due to his grandmother’s cancer diagnosis, the management allegedly showed no empathy. The worker stated that he was in distress and had sent an email explaining his situation and the harassment he was facing, only to be terminated the very next day, without warning or discussion.


He mentioned that he had communicated clearly about his grandmother’s critical condition and his need to travel immediately. Despite this, he said, the company treated his message as misconduct and ended his employment abruptly.

The employee revealed that he has filed a complaint with the labour commissioner in Hyderabad, alleging wrongful termination and illegal retention of his original documents. He stated that the company holds employees’ educational certificates until a service bond is completed — a practice that violates Indian labour laws. The employee said he is now struggling to find new work, as he cannot retrieve his original documents from the employer.

Reddit Users Condemn Company’s Actions
The post drew strong reactions from Reddit users who criticised the company’s alleged behaviour. One user highlighted that keeping original employee documents is a major violation of labour regulations. Another described the firm as a “Lala company,” a term often used to refer to small, unprofessional businesses that exploit staff.


Several users encouraged the employee to reach out directly to the district labour commissioner and make his story public on social media to gain visibility and support. Some also questioned why the company’s name was not revealed, suggesting that disclosing it could help others avoid similar experiences.