Senior Manager Fired After Cancer Diagnosis Highlights Systemic Workplace Failures
In May 2025, Santosh Patole, a senior manager at a multinational company, attended a mandatory health check-up organized by his employer. The results were alarming, leading to a devastating diagnosis: thyroid cancer. The tumor had been silently developing in his body for approximately one and a half years. Immediate surgery was required, and fortunately, his treatment was covered under the company's medical insurance policy.
A Double Blow: Termination Amid Medical Crisis
While Santosh was grappling with his diagnosis and undergoing rigorous treatment, he faced another shocking development. In July 2025, his employer abruptly asked him to leave the organization. "It came as a shock to me!" Santosh recounted. "I did not know what went wrong as I had a strong professional track record with consistent outstanding performance, multiple promotions, bonuses, and recognition awards during my tenure." Already struggling with the emotional and physical toll of cancer, this termination left him devastated.
After taking a few days to process the situation, Santosh emailed the company demanding an explanation for his termination. When he received no response for nearly a month, he escalated the matter by sending a legal notice. Subsequently, he was called to the office and informed of unspecified anomalies in his work, but no concrete evidence or detailed explanation was provided. "My question was: why was I not informed about it earlier, and was I the signing or approving authority? They did not have any concrete answers," he stated.
Fighting Back: Hunger Strike and Public Outcry
Santosh pleaded with the company to reinstate him, emphasizing his need for the job and his ability to work. However, his requests were ignored. In a desperate move, he announced on LinkedIn his intention to go on a hunger strike. The company contacted him again, but only to dissuade him from the protest, refusing to offer any written assurance regarding his employment. "There seemed to be no end to my miseries. I went on the hunger strike, but on the third day I had to forcibly end it because of my deteriorating health," he shared.
Despite the setback, his protest gained significant public attention and media coverage, spotlighting a critical gap in India's workplace protection laws. Santosh highlighted that while India has the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, which establishes mechanisms like POSH to address harassment, no similar institutional framework exists to combat medical discrimination. "It reflects a systemic gap in Indian labour and employment laws, where there is no clear statutory mechanism addressing discrimination against employees undergoing serious medical conditions such as cancer or other critical illnesses," he explained.
Advocating for Legislative Change
Employees suffering from serious illnesses often face sudden termination, forced resignations, and a lack of grievance redressal in private organizations, which can act arbitrarily. Santosh, now jobless and battling cancer, has taken up another fight. He is dedicating his efforts to introduce a Private Member Bill in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the Parliament of India to address medical discrimination at workplaces.
He believes legislators should raise this issue through Zero Hour questions to underscore the urgent need for policy reform. The proposed bill aims to establish a POSH-like institutional mechanism with the following objectives:
- Prevent discrimination against employees undergoing serious medical treatment
- Provide a structured grievance redressal process
- Ensure fair employment practices and protection of livelihood during medical crises
- Uphold dignity and health protection for workers
A Broader Issue of Corporate Indifference
Santosh Patole's story underscores the plight of many white-collar professionals who invest years in building corporate success, only to be met with indifference during times of vulnerability. In numerous cases, employees are pushed out for cheaper replacements or when they are most susceptible, such as during serious medical emergencies. This troubling narrative reveals a significant power imbalance between corporations and their workers.
Stories like Santosh's raise crucial questions about accountability, employee protection, and corporate ethics. Policymakers and governments must address these issues to transform workplace dignity and security from mere promises into tangible realities for all employees.
