Archive · 14 Aug 2026
'Hugs and money': Unilever manager's viral LinkedIn story melts hearts
A man named Sanjay Khosla used to work at a big company called Unilever.
One day, he got very sad news: his dad had passed away far away in Delhi.
He wanted to fly home to be with his family, but all the planes were full.
He called his boss to say he could not come to work.
His boss said, 'Give me 30 minutes.'
Soon after, the boss called back and said a plane ticket was already waiting for him at the airport.
Sanjay flew home to his family, and he never forgot how kind his boss was.
He learned that workers need two things to be happy: money to pay for their needs, and 'hugs,' which means feeling cared for.
He shared this story online, and lots of people loved it.
Sanjay Khosla, an executive coach and author, shared on LinkedIn a personal story from his years at Unilever in London.
His father suddenly passed away in Delhi one Saturday in June, and all flights home that day were sold out.
His boss called back within 30 minutes and revealed a business-class ticket was waiting at the British Airways counter at Heathrow.
Khosla concluded that employees stay at companies for 'hugs and money' - fair pay plus genuine care and support.
The post went viral, with users praising Unilever's empathetic culture and one warning that rule-following can crowd out empathy.
- Who
- Sanjay Khosla, an executive coach and author who previously worked at Unilever in London, and his boss who arranged the flight.
- What
- Khosla's boss arranged a business-class British Airways ticket so he could fly to Delhi after his father's sudden death.
- When
- One Saturday in June, during Khosla's years working at Unilever in London.
- Where
- London, England, and Delhi, India (the ticket was waiting at the British Airways counter at Heathrow).
- Why
- To help Khosla be with his family in a moment of devastation; the gesture inspired his philosophy that employees need both fair pay and genuine care.
Empathy-first workplace culture
Rules-and-fairness-first corporate policy
Employee support in a crisis
Empathy-first workplace culture
Companies should go beyond policy and show care, like arranging a flight in an emergency, because people need to know you care and have their back.
Rules-and-fairness-first corporate policy
Some companies choose to stick strictly to the books and rules and be fair to everyone, using policies as a shield against special treatment.
- Story author
- Sanjay Khosla, executive coach and author
- Company
- Unilever (London office)
- Event
- Sudden death of Khosla's father
- Boss's gesture
- Business-class ticket at British Airways counter, Heathrow
- Destination
- Delhi, India
- Core message
- "Hugs and money" - fair pay plus genuine care
- Platform
- Reaction
- Went viral, praised Unilever's caring culture