Archive · 29 Jan 2026
Man Quits Job Over Denied Paid Leave for Chemo
A man named Tyler Wells who works in social media at an ad agency quit his job because he was diagnosed with brain cancer and needed time off for chemotherapy.
His company has a policy that says employees can take as much paid time off as they want, but when he asked for a few days each month to go to his treatments, they said no.
They told him he would have to take unpaid time off instead.
Tyler was upset because he thought the company should help employees who are sick.
He also said that there should be laws to make sure people getting treatment for serious illnesses like cancer can still get paid.
Many people on the internet agreed with him and shared their own stories about having trouble with work while they were sick.
Tyler Wells, a social media professional, quit his six-figure job at an ad agency after being diagnosed with brain cancer.
He requested 2-3 days of paid leave per month for chemotherapy but was denied and told it would be considered an abuse of the company's unlimited PTO policy.
The company suggested he take unpaid time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) instead.
Wells called for workplace reforms, including better policies for treating sick employees and laws guaranteeing full pay for those undergoing cancer treatment.
His post on X (formerly Twitter) gained traction, with many users sharing their own experiences and criticizing the company's policy.
- Who
- Tyler Wells, a social media professional at an ad agency
- What
- Quit his job after being denied paid leave for chemotherapy
- When
- In 2024, during his brain cancer treatment
- Where
- At his workplace in the United States
- Why
- Because his requests for paid time off during chemotherapy were denied, and he was told it would be considered an abuse of the company's unlimited PTO policy
- Name
- Tyler Wells
- Job
- Social media professional
- Company
- Ad agency
- Salary
- Six-figure
- Diagnosis
- Brain cancer
- Leave Request
- 2-3 days per month for chemo
- Company Policy
- Unlimited PTO
- Company Response
- Denied paid leave, suggested unpaid FMLA