An exchange between a manager and a new employee has gone viral after the boss attempted to pressure the worker – who had just broken his leg – into returning to work before being cleared by doctors.

The conversation, shared by UK entrepreneur and TikTok creator Ben Askins, has left viewers stunned at the lack of compassion.

In the exchange, the boss begins by asking: ‘Hey, just been told you can’t do your shift tomorrow, what’s going on?’

The employee responds: ‘I broke my leg coming off my bike, I am in hospital at the moment.’

Rather than offering sympathy, the boss immediately presses: ‘When do you think you will be back?’

Mr Askins interjects in the video, criticising the remark: ‘Not your best question, could’ve been a little more humanity in there.’

The employee explains they are awaiting advice from their doctor and will need to be on bed rest before being measured for crutches.

But instead of accepting this, the boss pushes further.

‘Ideally, I need you in for the Friday shift, do you think you will make it? I can get you a chair.’

Mr Askins is left incredulous, asking ‘oh good, we have a medical degree now, do we?’.

‘You’re genuinely putting in writing to go against medical advice. Like in what possible scenario do you think that ends well for you? he adds.

The worker remains polite in the text, reiterating: ‘If the doctor says it’s all good then yep no worries. But if they say no, then I can’t.’

Still, the boss pushes back.

‘They are always overly cautious. I kind of need you to just commit to it. It isn’t a great look being off work when you only started two weeks ago.’

Mr Askins fired back in disbelief: ‘The only thing you’ve offered to help is a chair for a broken leg. When is the acceptable amount of time to break your leg? He’s not done it on purpose.’

The fed-up employee eventually makes the only decision left.

‘Then let me make it even easier for you, I quit.’

‘I mean, what is this boss playing at? I have absolutely no idea,’ Mr Askins says at the end of the exchange.

The video has racked up hundreds of comments, with people sharing similar experiences of unsympathetic managers.

‘My former employer said I couldn’t have picked a worse time to have a miscarriage,’ one woman revealed.

‘My boss didn’t believe I’d broken my arm. I sent him six doctor’s letters, photocopies of my X-rays, a photo of me in a sling and even came in to show him. I ended up taking them to small claims court and won when they ‘fired’ me,’ another said.

Others pointed out the absurdity of expecting someone’s injury to heal faster just because they were new.

‘Do they think the bone is going to heal quicker because the employee’s only been there two weeks?’ one asked.

But not all boss stories were bleak.

‘I broke my leg, and my boss told me under no circumstance was I to come back until my follow-up appointment. He even made sure I didn’t miss out on pay. I’m now one of the top performers there because who wouldn’t want to work hard for a boss like that?’ a man shared.

Under Australian workplace law, employees are entitled to take sick leave – including time off for injuries – without being pressured to return before being medically cleared.

Forcing or coercing staff to work against medical advice could breach Fair Work protections and leave businesses exposed to legal consequences.

The viral video has sparked debate around employer expectations. As one commenter summed up: ‘No job is worth your health.’