Boss Slammed for Making Worker ‘Choose Between Work and Healthcare’

Commenters slammed a boss who refused to let an employee miss a shift for a doctor’s appointment.

The Original Poster (OP) posted about the situation in Reddit’s popular “Antiwork” forum where it received nearly 28,000 upvotes and 1,000 comments. The post can be found here.

Sick Leave

According to a study by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 59 percent of workers in service jobs had access to paid sick leave in 2021 compared to 77 percent of private sector workers.

The BLS also found that the highest wage workers are about three times as likely to have access to paid sick leave than the lowest wage workers.

While 95 percent of highest-wage workers received access to paid sick leave, an estimated 33 percent of lowest-wage workers receive paid sick days.

‘Your Last Day’

“Had to choose between work and healthcare today,” the title of the post read with a screenshot of an alleged text conversation between the OP and their employer at a Subway restaurant.

In the screenshot, the OP explains to their boss that they cannot come in for work because they have a doctor’s appointment.

“I can’t go today Kumar I have a follow up doctor’s visit to check on my foot,” the OP texted.

“If you no coming today then today your last day,” the employer replied.

“I’m going to the doctor I’ll turn in my uniform now,” the OP texted back.

The OP’s boss then replied with a simple “ok.”

In the comments section, the OP agreed that they should have informed their employer about the doctor’s appointment earlier, but clarified that it was not a follow-up, it was actually a walk-in appointment.

Redditor Reactions

Nearly 1,000 users commented on the post, many offering the OP advice including filing for unemployment.

“You didn’t quit. You were fired,” one user commented. “The employer is the party that initiated the job separation when he told you that it was your last day if you didn’t report to work.”

“This person was fired for having a doctor’s appointment,” another user replied. “I am certain they are eligible for UI [unemployment insurance]. Their employer may have broken some state laws depending on the state.”

“If you’re in the US—congratulations on getting fired over text,” another commented. “You have the proof you need to get unemployment.”

“File for unemployment and show that text thread as evidence,” another wrote.

But some users said the OP should not have offered to turn in their uniform and criticized them for not telling their boss about the appointment in advance.

Newsweek reached out to u/bless-the-cat and Subway for comment.

Other Viral Posts

In another viral post from Reddit’s “Antiwork” forum, a worker was backed for refusing to take a drug test and still getting the job.

One boss was criticized in the forum after telling an employee they have to work more than 70 hours a week, and another was slammed for calling the police after she left work early.