Employee Receives ‘Special Warning’ for Working From Home Without Permission; Online Debate Ensues

A chat between an employee and the CEO of a foreign startup with operations in India has gone viral on social media after the CEO issued what was described as a “special warning” to the employee for working from home without prior approval.
The incident first surfaced on Reddit, where the employee shared that they had emailed the CEO to inform him about working from home due to a twisted leg and mobility issues. The employee noted that this was only their second WFH request in seven months and assumed that informing management was adequate, as the company reportedly had no clearly defined work-from-home or leave policy.
However, the CEO objected to the employee’s approach, responding that “permission, not notification” was required before working remotely. The CEO reportedly wrote, “It is not our culture. Very bad. I did not allow you to work from home; you must ask for permission, not just notify.”
The post also mentioned that the employee had previously been reprimanded for simply informing management about planned holidays instead of seeking explicit approval. The issue appears to have been compounded by a lack of HR oversight, as both the HR head and the reporting manager had recently left the company.
The viral exchange has since sparked a wider debate on workplace flexibility and communication norms, especially in hybrid and cross-cultural teams. Many social media users criticised the CEO’s stance as overly rigid, arguing that the employee’s email notification should have sufficed under the circumstances. Others countered that formal permission protocols are standard practice in many multinational companies, particularly where employee accountability and operational consistency are key concerns.
Several users also responded with humour and sarcasm, sharing memes and personal anecdotes about similar experiences, while HR professionals and managers used the discussion to highlight the importance of clear internal policies and communication guidelines.
The episode underscores the ongoing cultural and procedural challenges companies face as they navigate evolving models of remote and hybrid work, especially in multinational environments where expectations around autonomy, trust, and hierarchy can differ significantly.

Key Takeaways

Employee received a formal “special warning” for WFH without prior approval.

CEO emphasised that permission—not notification—is required.

Lack of defined HR policies contributed to confusion.

The viral exchange reignited debate on workplace flexibility and communication norms.

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