Unpaid intern denied emergency leave by employer in India despite parents being on bed rest - boss defends decision emphasizing professional obligation
In a recent post on Reddit's "Indian Workplace" community, a user shared a conversation between their friend, an unpaid intern, and her boss, who refused to grant emergency leave due to family obligations. The post, titled "Boss won't allow my friend to take emergency leave as an unpaid intern," has sparked a heated discussion about toxic work culture and the lack of legal protections for unpaid interns in India.
The intern's parents are sick and require her care, leading to her need for emergency leave. However, her boss denied the request, stating that the internship was unpaid and non-employee, and thus, leave was not permissible. This incident has been tagged as an example of "Workplace Toxicity."
One Redditor suggested a reply that the intern could give to her boss, stating, "You're right. Prioritizing my parents' health over an unpaid internship exposes my shocking lack of commitment. Next time, I'll remind them to get sick on a weekend or during a major holiday."
The discussion on Reddit has seen a wave of outrage from users, with many expressing their sympathy for the intern's situation. One user commented, "If the place falls apart by an intern taking a day off, they really shouldn't be keeping interns!" Another user added, "And pay them at least."
The post also references another incident where an Indian-origin startup founder called an 80-hour work week the "baseline," which sparked criticism online for promoting burnout as a badge of honor. This incident highlights the broader issue of the unregulated nature of unpaid internships in India.
Unpaid interns in India do not have defined legal rights specifically guaranteeing emergency leave, as Indian labor laws and employment statutes generally focus on paid employees. Consequently, unpaid interns can be denied leave — including for emergencies — without violating labor regulations.
Around 200 people agree with a Redditor who says, "Whether you are an intern or an employee, it doesn't matter. If you need a leave for family, take it without guilt and without being sorry. Work won't stop, but you will end up losing time spent with family. If your company lacks contingency measures in such emergency situations, it is their fault, not yours!"
Many Redditors suggest that unpaid internships should not be undertaken due to the lack of legal protections and the potential for exploitation. One user even went as far as to say, "They shouldn't be existing as a company to start with."
The intern's boss denies the leave request, as stated in a WhatsApp conversation shared by the Reddit user. The post is part of a broader discussion on toxic work culture, particularly in the Indian workplace. It serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by unpaid interns and the need for better legal protections and a more humane approach to work culture in India.
- The intern's refusal for emergency leave, despite her family obligations, has been met with criticism in the "Indian Workplace" community, with one user suggesting a sarcastic response to her boss about commitment.
- The lack of legal protections for unpaid interns in India has been highlighted in the discussion, as unpaid interns do not have specifically defined rights guaranteeing emergency leave.
- The unregulated nature of unpaid internships in India has been brought into question, with some Redditors suggesting that such internships should not be undertaken due to their potential for exploitation.
- The post about the intern's situation serves as a reminder of the broader issue of toxic work culture in India, particularly in the workplace, and the need for better legal protections and a more humane approach to work culture.
