A man employed at an Indian company has taken to Reddit to share his frustration over being repeatedly asked for medical “documents” by his team lead, even while he is on approved medical leave and recovering. He noted that a large chunk of his leave is unpaid and questioned why recovery in India is treated as a favour rather than a basic right.
‘Chased for documents on approved medical leave’
“On approved medical leave, still being chased for ‘documents’ by TL. Indian workplace things,” Reddit user, who goes by “ImpromptuHotelier” online, wrote in the title of his post. He also attached screenshots of the emails exchanged between him and his team lead to support his claims.
In one of the emails, the team lead requested complete medical documentation to justify the leave that had already been approved based on the employee’s medical condition discussed during one-on-one meetings.
“As discussed earlier, we require the complete medical documents for the leaves approved by me, based on the medical condition you explained during our one-on-one sessions. I attempted to reach you on your primary contact number, but it seems my number is blocked,” the email from the team lead read.
He added, “I then connected with you via WhatsApp, and as per your response, you mentioned you would share the documents soon. Could you please confirm the timeline by which we can expect to receive these documents? Thank you for your cooperation.”
‘Not withholding documents, but…’
The employee replied that he would submit the documents once they were released in a “complaint format”. In his Reddit post, he explained that parts of his medical records contain “third-party confidential information” and must be routed through a “civilian hospital for redaction” before they can be shared.
He stressed that he is not intentionally withholding the documents and that the delay was due to procedural requirements beyond his control.
It is to be noted that medical records in India are protected under doctor-patient confidentiality, the National Medical Commission (NMC) ethics regulations, and the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023. These laws restrict disclosure of patient secrets except in specific cases like court orders or public health risks.
Since medical records contain third-party details such as family members, donors, hospital staff, or internal identifiers, they must be redacted before sharing with non-medical entities like employers.
In the email, he also responded to his manager’s attempts to contact him. “As I am currently on approved leave, I am prioritising my health and wellbeing, both physical and mental,” he explained over email, before adding, “I responded on WhatsApp with the current status and constraints.”
The employee further stated, “Any further clarification can continue over email, which ensures proper documentation and traceability for all parties involved. I will share the documents as soon as they are available. Until then, I request your understanding, as the delay is procedural and not due to non-cooperation. Please let me know if any additional formal requirement exists beyond what has already been discussed and approved earlier.”
‘Documentation seems more about control’
In the Reddit post, he expressed that the repeated calls and messages for “documents” seem “less about policy and more about control”.
“What makes it worse: Part of this leave is unpaid. Leave was already approved before it started. I am being contacted during leave repeatedly. The concern seems less about policy and more about control. I responded formally, documented everything, reiterated the constraints, and asked if HR or the medical verification team needed anything specific. But the experience itself is exhausting,” he further wrote in his Reddit post.
The man said he was left confused about whether his leave was truly approved and questioned why, especially during unpaid leave, he is expected to “justify his existence daily”.
‘Why is recovery treated like a favour?’
“Why is recovery treated like a favour instead of a right? Why does medical leave in Indian workplaces feel like you are guilty until proven sick? This is not about refusing to submit documents. This is about basic respect for boundaries and process,” he went on to say.
He concluded by saying that Indian corporate culture needs to recognise that medical leave is neither a “loophole nor an ego challenge”, but a legitimate necessity that deserves respect.
How did Reddit users react?
The Reddit post has received nearly 800 upvotes and numerous comments. “Wow, 10/10 on your reply,” said one Reddit user.
Another added, “I don’t get this hostility from TL. Is the HR included in this? Such things are dealt with by HR and not TL….”
“Repeat after me: HR exists only to protect the company’s interests, not the employees’,” commented a third.
A fourth posted, “Dude, you shouldn’t have opened the email at all.. The first thing I do when I am on leave is disable the work apps on my phone.”
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