Not granted leave for brother's wedding, he chose to resign. But he learnt a lesson also

A professional found himself in an impossible situation when his employer demanded he pick between his brother’s wedding and his job. Sharing his ordeal on the subreddit Indian Workplace, he explained that after four years of committed service, he had expected a basic level of understanding from his company.

He recounted how he had always gone above and beyond—taking on additional responsibilities, mentoring juniors, and even continuing on a lower salary when the organization was struggling financially. He had also absorbed the workload of colleagues who left, never once demanding a raise. Against this backdrop of loyalty, he believed asking for leave to attend his real brother’s wedding in the United States was a fair request. With three weeks’ prior notice, he sought fifteen working days of vacation to make the trip.

Instead of showing empathy, management gave him a stark ultimatum: either skip the wedding or resign. Hoping to find middle ground, he even tried cutting down his leave request, but the company refused to compromise. What stung the most, he wrote, was the lack of compassion from the leadership, despite years of dedication. Ironically, most colleagues—including his former boss—supported him privately and admitted that the company’s stand was unreasonable.

A Difficult Goodbye

Faced with the choice, he decided to step away from the organization, despite having no new offer in hand. He mentioned that financial survival wasn’t an immediate problem, as he didn’t carry heavy expenses like rent or food costs. Yet he couldn’t help but wonder whether he had made the right decision—walking away from steady employment in order to be present for a once-in-a-lifetime family event.

To make matters worse, the company insisted he serve a notice period before leaving. He felt this was another attempt to emotionally pressure him, as it would limit the time he could spend at the wedding. They warned that leaving abruptly would damage relationships and tarnish his reputation. But he argued that no one showed him consideration when he requested leave, so why should he be expected to bend now?

Community Response

Fellow Reddit users rallied behind him. One shared advice from a mentor, saying that personal life should always take precedence, and professional obligations must adjust—not the other way around. Another user assured him that his choice was justified, reminding him that an employer unwilling to stand by him during a critical moment had already destroyed the professional bond. Many agreed he had made the right decision to walk away with self-respect intact.