India, March 13 -- A man working at a startup has sparked discussion online after sharing what he claimed was his company founder's response to his request for sick leave.

The post, shared on the subreddit r/IndianWorkplace, included a screenshot of an email exchange that the employee said took place after he informed HR that he was unwell and unable to attend work.

(Also read: Startup employee with Rs.24 LPA package laid off despite strong performance: 'I thought growth meant stability')

According to the post, the employee wrote in the email: "Dear HR, I am feeling unwell today and will not be able to attend work. Kindly grant me sick leave for today. I will resume work as soon as my health improves. Thank you for your understanding."...