Team lead demands flight booking details as leave proof; employee blocks him in response
An employee on Reddit said he blocked his team lead after being asked to submit full flight booking details as proof for his leave.
A Reddit post has sparked debate online after an employee revealed that his team lead allegedly demanded full flight booking details as proof for an already approved leave.

Approved leave turns into last minute conflict
In his detailed post, the employee explained that the holiday plan had been approved a month in advance. He wrote, "Anyways, here goes. I had an approved holiday plan from a month ago. I reminded my TL earlier this week. He kept delaying giving mail approval even though he verbally agreed. Then suddenly, last minute, he tried to force a half day shift on the day of my flight. Fine. Whatever."
The situation escalated when the employee informed the team lead that his flight had been rescheduled and he would not be able to attend work. "Today, I tell him my flight got moved earlier than expected and I won’t be coming in. He immediately replies, 'Share the flight booking details.' Not a screenshot of the timing. Not a written confirmation. He literally wanted the full booking details. As if he is immigration. As if I owe him my itinerary," the user wrote, adding that this demand crossed a boundary.
Employee blocks TL across platforms
Feeling harassed, the employee decided to block the team lead on every communication channel. "I said nothing. I blocked him on SMS. I blocked him on calls. I blocked him on WhatsApp. He tried calling multiple times and even messaged me there. Deleted the chat without opening. Phone was on silent. Slept peacefully."
The user also added broader concerns about the team lead’s past behaviour. "This is the same TL who denied my WFH earlier for a reason he admitted was personal annoyance. The same TL who changed Thanksgiving dates last minute because management messed up the calendar. The same TL who expects us to run to our seats like nuclear launch operators. And now he wants my boarding pass."
He concluded with a strong statement about boundaries and workplace trust. “My personal travel plans are not for you to verify. If you don't trust your employees enough to take a leave without demanding proof, that is a management failure, not an employee issue. Exit countdown: 3 months. TL blocklist: Permanent.”
The employee also posted a screenshot showing multiple blocked call attempts from the team lead. The post was shared with the title: "TL demanded my flight booking as 'proof' for leave. I blocked him."
Check out the post here:
Users react
The Reddit post received several comments. One user wrote, "We need more people like you in the corporate setup. Way to go, buddy." Another commented, "Well done. Things might get ugly, keep everything in writing and save proof," while a third remarked, "Well good thing you blocked them, you don't need to share personal travel plans with them." Another reaction read, "This is wrong at so many level."
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)
ABOUT THE AUTHORMahipal Singh ChouhanMahipal Singh Chouhan is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times Digital, with nearly five years of experience in digital journalism and content production. His work primarily focuses on offbeat and trending stories that reflect everyday experiences and evolving conversations on the internet. He has consistently worked on transforming viral content and human interest stories into structured news pieces that engage readers while maintaining editorial clarity. At Hindustan Times, Mahipal contributes to identifying and developing stories emerging from social media trends, online communities, and real-world incidents that capture public attention. His approach involves adding context and journalistic perspective to fast-moving digital narratives, helping present viral moments in a clear and reader-friendly format suited for digital audiences. Before joining Hindustan Times Digital, he was associated with DNA India, where he gained experience in newsroom workflows and digital storytelling practices. Mahipal holds a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, Delhi. He is particularly interested in tracking emerging trends and understanding how online conversations evolve into broader public discussions. His work reflects a focus on accuracy, readability, and relevance in the rapidly changing digital news environment. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Mahipal takes an interest in history and sports and regularly works on improving his general knowledge, which complements his curiosity as a media professional.Read More

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