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Hyderabad techie glorifies sick day tactic on LinkedIn, internet calls him out: ‘Stay home’

The techie’s LinkedIn post went viral when it was re-shared on Reddit. People were unhappy with his sick day ‘hack’.

Published on: Jul 1, 2025, 09:03:22 IST
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A LinkedIn post by a Hyderabad techie about logging off early at the first sign of illness to avoid taking leave the next day has sparked a debate online. Many slammed him for promoting a “toxic” work culture, adding that his illness might have been contagious.

A techie’s post about his hustle while feeling feverish has irked people. (Representational image). (Unsplash/Usman Yousaf)
A techie’s post about his hustle while feeling feverish has irked people. (Representational image). (Unsplash/Usman Yousaf)

“Saved 5 hours just by acting smart. The day I felt something off like a fever was on the way I didn’t wait for it to hit hard. I wrapped up an hour early and went home. That night? Full-blown fever,” the techie wrote.

Also Read: US techie slams Indian colleagues, alleges they avoid taking ownership: ‘Only say I agree or ok’

“But because I gave myself that buffer, I rested for 10–11 hours straight, and guess what? Next morning, I was back at work just 2 hours later instead of wasting an entire sick day,” he added.

In the rest of the post, he talked about saving five hours by “listening to” his body. “Time is precious. Your health is too,” he continued.

His post was reshared on Reddit with a caption that read, “What?!” and it has since gone viral.

How did social media react?

An individual wrote, “Dude is still contagious and should have stayed home. Agree?” Another commented, “I've definitely done this before to try to minimize my PTO, and it's sometimes worked - but I work remotely, so there was no danger of me spreading anything around the office.”

Also Read: iPhones, EMIs and burnout: Bengaluru techie's brutally honest post on 'middle-class' lifestyle goes viral

A third expressed, “Fever generally means ‘infectious’, stay the f**k home, I ain't eating downtime because you can't be bothered to take an actual sick day.” A fourth remarked, “Stay home when you’ve been sick. You’re still shedding the virus after the fever breaks! FFS, this is how pandemics happen!”

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More

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