Gen Z Employee Asks for 12 Days Off After Breakup — Boss's Response Wins the Internet

A workplace story from a modern startup has gone viral, sparking conversation across social media about empathy and mental health at work. A Gen Z employee recently sent her boss a leave request for an unusual reason — she was struggling after a breakup and wanted 12 days off to recover emotionally.

The Most ‘Honest’ Leave Application
The incident took place at a company called Not Dating, where an employee emailed CEO and co-founder Jasvir Singh, candidly admitting, “Sir, I recently had a breakup. I’m unable to focus on my work. I’m working from home today, but I need leave from the 28th to the 8th.”

Singh was so struck by the honesty of the message that he shared it on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, calling it the “most honest leave application” he had ever received. His caption read, “Gen Z doesn’t hide anything,” highlighting the younger generation’s openness about mental health and emotions.

The Boss’s Surprising Response
Instead of dismissing the request, Jasvir Singh immediately approved the 12-day leave, saying he completely understood. He explained, “This generation values mental and emotional well-being just as much as work performance.” His compassionate response quickly went viral, earning widespread praise online.

Netizens React
Social media users flooded the post with comments, applauding the boss’s empathy. One wrote, “A boss who understands emotions is a true leader.” Another joked, “People don’t get this much leave for their wedding!”

To this, Singh humorously replied, “A breakup needs more leave than a wedding,” accompanied by a laughing emoji — a comment that only added to the viral charm of the story.