American boss tells worker to ‘make up’ sick depart hours later, sparks outrage on-line

Published on: Oct 20, 2025 06:31 pm IST

A US boss is going through backlash on-line after telling a sick worker she might take the time off however should “make up” the hours later.

A US-based boss is going through criticism on-line after a screenshot of his response to an worker’s sick depart request went viral. It all began after the worker, Ley Sabandal, who works remotely from the Philippines, shared her supervisor’s message on Threads. The reply, by which her boss granted her break day however requested her to “make up” the hours later, triggered widespread backlash from customers in Europe and different international locations.

The reply triggered widespread backlash from customers in Europe and different international locations.(Representational picture/Unsplash)

The supervisor’s message learn, “Sorry you’re not feeling nicely. No drawback taking the day to relaxation. Yes, you’re welcome to flex your time to make up hours anytime throughout the month. No hurry catching again up. Thanks”

The worker shared the screenshot with the caption, “This is how my American boss responds to my sick depart request.”

Even although Sabandal described the boss’ reply as thoughtful, it was shortly met with disbelief exterior the United States.

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Workplace tradition world wide

“Seeing this as a German is like.. what the f–ok. catching up work time as a result of I used to be sick? Hilarious,” one person wrote.

A person from Poland added, “A traditional sick day right here. Paid 80%. No have to make up something. No limits in sick days per yr.”

A Sweden resident chimed in, too, saying: “So sick days and trip days come from the identical price range? Swede right here – that sounds horrible. Really. In Sweden, in case you are on a deliberate vacation and get sick, you may really name in sick and get ‘new’ trip days. Probably extraordinary within the US.”

Some Americans, nonetheless, defended the message as empathetic by US requirements. “It appears fairly sort to me. What am I lacking?” one person wrote.

The submit finally developed right into a broader debate on how international locations deal with sickness and private well-being within the office. Commenters from Norway and New Zealand shared examples of employers providing absolutely paid sick depart, psychological well being days and union-protected break day with none expectation of “making up” hours later.

“Norwegian right here: I needed to take a psychological well being day final month. I’ve acquired so much happening in my life and had loads of unexpected issues occurring without delay. Told my boss and he mentioned it was okay and instructed me to maintain myself,” learn a remark.

“New Zealander right here. My boss would prob reply with. Hey something I can get for you? 24 days paid sick depart, psychological well being days, two paid union days off plus 4-5 weeks annual depart. America is bizarre. Oh and free healthcare,” mentioned one other person.

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