‘No sick leave, no personal leave’: Woman claims HR said every sick day means pay cut; LinkedIn can't believe it

Finding the right job is no longer just about salary, role, or company reputation. For many professionals, workplace policies and employee benefits have become equally important while evaluating opportunities. This is why a recent LinkedIn post about a recruitment call has drawn attention online.

The post revolves around a conversation a woman allegedly had with a recruiter regarding the company’s leave policy. What she claims she was told during the call surprised her and later sparked discussion among LinkedIn users, many of whom questioned the approach described.

What happened during the recruiter call?

The post was shared by Upasana Sarbajna, who said she received a call from a company whose name she chose not to disclose. She said the conversation initially followed a standard pattern, with the recruiter explaining the organization, its vision, and its client base.

“The other day, I received a very surprising call from a company. I shall not take their name, but it was surprising enough for me to pen my thoughts about it,” she wrote.

The leave policy that raised concerns

According to her post, the discussion changed when the recruiter explained the company’s leave structure. She said the policy was described as “flexible,” but employees would not be allowed to take sick or personal leave without a pay deduction.

“They said to me, ‘We have a flexible leave policy. You will get holidays on festivals; however, our policy does not entertain employees taking sick or personal leaves whatsoever,’” she quoted.

She further claimed that such leaves would be treated as a loss of pay, meaning even a single day off could lead to salary deductions.

Her reaction to the conversation

Sarbajna said she was taken aback by the explanation and chose not to respond immediately. Instead, she told the recruiter she needed time to consider the offer before ending the call. “I still feel in shock at how companies take advantage of the lack of a stern labour law to exploit employees to this extent. How is this even allowed?” she wrote.

Social media reactions

The post quickly gained traction on LinkedIn, with users reacting strongly to the leave policy described in the conversation, calling it “shocking” and “misleading,” while others questioned how such deductions were being calculated and pointed out that sick leave is a basic employee right.

Some users said the situation reflects broader issues in corporate India, while others criticized the framing of “flexible leave policy” when all leave effectively becomes unpaid.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a post shared on LinkedIn and user reactions on social media. The Times of India has not independently verified the claims made in the post. The views expressed are those of the original poster and commenters.Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)