Boss Asks Employee for Live Location to Approve Sick Leave, Internet Reacts

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New Delhi: An employee has sparked an online debate over workplace privacy after alleging that their manager demanded access to their live location as a condition for approving sick leave. The incident, shared in a now-viral Reddit post, has drawn widespread criticism and renewed scrutiny of work culture practices in India.

In the post, titled “Is asking for live location okay?”, the employee shared screenshots of a WhatsApp conversation in which their boss requested real-time location details, claiming it was required under company HR policy. The employee said the request followed their application for a second day of sick leave due to an acute headache.

According to the post, the employee had initially been told by HR to provide “valid documents” to justify the leave. When this was communicated to the manager, the boss reportedly asked for the employee’s live location instead. When questioned about the reason, the manager responded that the instruction had come from HR.

The screenshots show the manager first setting a deadline for submitting documents before escalating the request to include live location access. The employee said they were uncomfortable with the demand and questioned its legitimacy, describing it as intrusive and inappropriate.

The post quickly gained traction on social media, with many users calling the request a clear violation of privacy. Several commenters argued that live location tracking has no relevance to sick leave approval, particularly in cases involving common ailments such as headaches.

Others advised the employee to refuse the request, suggest formal communication via official email, or escalate the matter within the organisation. Some users also criticised what they described as toxic workplace practices and excessive micromanagement, particularly in smaller companies.

The incident has fuelled broader discussions online about employee rights, data privacy, and the boundaries of managerial authority in the workplace, with many calling for clearer policies and stronger protections for workers.