A candid post on Reddit by a disgruntled manager has ignited a discussion about the potential misuse of work-from-home flexibility. The manager expressed strong disapproval of certain remote employees who allegedly use “power cut” excuses as a common reason to avoid virtual meetings and disconnect during work hours.
The manager detailed how two team members, both earning substantial salaries, frequently update their Slack status to indicate “network issue” or “electricity outage,” subsequently disappearing for extended periods. “It’s understandable to have network issues once in a while, but if it continues for weeks, shouldn’t you switch providers?” the manager questioned, highlighting the perceived lack of proactive solutions.
The post further pointed out the financial aspect, questioning why employees earning over ₹1.5 lakh monthly after taxes would not invest in a basic Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), which costs approximately ₹1,000. The manager also criticized the excuse of laptop battery failures, stating that the company provides high-quality MacBooks, implying that battery issues suggest carelessness or dishonesty.
While acknowledging that occasional technical difficulties are acceptable, the manager emphasized that persistent unreliability could lead to negative repercussions from upper management. The post concluded with a note of caution: “If tomorrow management takes action, the same people will say they have no work-life balance.”
The Reddit post garnered significant attention, with many users agreeing with the manager’s sentiment that some employees were taking remote work privileges for granted. However, a segment of the online community also voiced concerns that the manager’s approach was too harsh and failed to account for genuine infrastructure issues or frequent power outages in certain areas. Some shared anecdotes of similar situations where colleagues repeatedly used flimsy excuses, leading to revoked remote work policies.