Son Applies For Leave For Mother’s Surgery, Gets Rejected Because “It Wasn’t Serious”

On 26 January, a netizen named Hanafie took to Twitter to share how his employer had advised him not to take leave for his mother’s eye operation because “it wasn’t serious”. Understandably, the filial son was taken aback by the insensitive and heartless advice from his boss, according to Lobak Merah.

Here’s what he wrote;

“My mother has diabetes and the optic nerve could be damaged during the operation. (To my) heartless boss, it doesn’t matter how long I worked here, what matters is that is my mother.”

“She carried me for nine months, is it so hard for me to take two days off just to be with her?” 

To avoid any miscommunication or misunderstanding, Hanafie went to see his boss and explained everything. Unfortunately, he was still not allowed to take leave. “He (boss) said I don’t have to take leave first.”

Source: twitter

Source: twitter

After the tweet went viral online, many netizens urged him to resign as family members should always be his priority. However, some reckoned that it’s unwise to upload the conversation to social media.

“There are plenty of jobs out there but you only have one mother. Don’t waste time talking to your boss because he’s not the one going through it and he won’t be able to understand,” one netizen said. 

“I don’t agree with neither your boss nor your action of disclosing the conversation on social media. It’s very unprofessional,” another netizen commented. 

He also clarified that the purpose of the post wasn’t to shame his boss but to let everyone know that people with such attitudes aren’t fit to be employers. At the time of writing, it was understood that his mother had undergone the surgery three days ago.

Anyway, we pray for his mother’s speedy recovery and hopefully, his boss can be a little more sympathetic towards others’ predicaments in the future.

Update: Responding to this viral incident, Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia had sent WORLD OF BUZZ  a statement, with reference to the Employment Act 1955.

According to the law, an employee is entitled to paid annual leave of:

• eight days per year if he has been employed by that employer for a period of fewer than two years;
• twelve days per year if he has been employed by that employer for a period of two years or more but less than five years; and
• sixteen days per year if he has been employed by that employer for a period of five years or more.

Also, the department urged Hanafie to proceed to the nearest Labour office with the superior so that the issue can be settled in an amicable way.

Also read: “Will Your Mum Wake Up If You Attend Her Funeral?” Boss Asks Staff & Rejects Leave Application