A Reddit post about an employer restricting employees from taking time off, including sick leave, until the end of the year has sparked outrage on social media. The notice, which bars workers from taking any leave, including for illness, has left many questioning how a company can decide when someone might need sick leave.

The employer issued a “blackout” period on all vacation days and sick leaves from November 25 to December 31, citing the busiest time of the year as the reason. The notice read, “From November 25th until December 31st, there is a blackout on vacation days and time off, and there will be no exceptions for calling off or taking sick days. Given that these are our busiest days of the year, we will need all hands on deck. Thank you.”

The post, shared on Reddit by user Goodn00dl3, received major backlash, with many users calling out the company’s policy.

Social media’s reaction

“Why does corporate think this is ok? God forbid I get sick. Company doesn’t give a s**t,” the Reddit user who shared the post wrote.

Another user commented, “If you die, you have to inform management 3 days prior,” mocking the policy’s rigidity.

One user shared a personal story, saying, “I know a guy who owns a company, and they don’t let anyone off during the summer. The staff are overworked and underpaid, and the guy treats them like shit. Then he complains that people keep quitting and says, ‘Nobody wants to work.’”

Are there better workplace policies?

In contrast, some users highlighted positive examples. “There’s this local coffee shop near me. Two sisters own it, and they are so nice. Every January, they shut down for the whole month and still pay all their people. It’s just a way to say thank you and let everyone recharge,” one user shared.

Another person suggested a bold approach: “Call in with something highly contagious and say you’re still willing to come in but want to meet with your managers first to make sure it’s okay.”

This employer’s policy has raised questions about fairness, employee well-being, and workplace rights, leaving many to wonder how companies can balance peak work periods with the humane treatment of staff.