'I asked my boss for those days off [...] but she refused:' Single mother gets PTO denied, gets petty revenge on boss, internet reacts

Author image for Ben Weiss
Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
May 17, 2023 8:00 AM EDT

There's nothing worse than thinking you had a triumphant win against your boss, but really, you didn't win at all. That's what this Redditor likely learned after they posted this thread to Reddit's r/pettyrevenge subreddit, only to get mixed feedback from folks in the comments section. 

 

Now, we do have sympathy for the ways in which requesting PTO is handled in the workplace. It shouldn't be a question, it's part of your contract. However, OP's reasoning is a bit much. She sounds like the child, not the caretaker in this scenario. To be a fully grown adult and a single mom and to rely solely on your parents for transportation (we personally do not understand her perspective on Ubers)… well, it's just not healthy. It might have made sense to move in with her parents at the time, but it looks like she needs to start saving to move out for everyone's sake.

 

For more stories like this, check out this post about a boss's bad gift.

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  • 01
    Computer - "Boss didn't approve my time off"
    via Amy Hirschi
  • 02
    Font - Boss didn't approve my time off I'm a single mom of a 2 year old, we currently live with my parents because I found out I was pregnant less than a month before the lockdown started. I don't have my license yet (work in progress) so my parents are our only mode of transportation. They bought plane tickets to go out of state for my cousin's graduation from June 2nd-5th,
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 03
    Font - I wasn't able to get tickets for me and my daughter because I couldn't afford it. Well I asked my boss for those days off (on May 12th so there was plenty of notice) but she refused because "it wasn't my vacation" and "there are Uber's with carseats" (for context, I work at a preschool and she goes there with half tuition). I'm not comfortable putting my daughter in a stranger's car no matter who they are
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 04
    Font - or how safe it is. My boss told me if I didn't set up transportation then I would be written up for a no call no show Cue the petty revenge; I told my parents how upset I was about this because I couldn't find a single solution that would appease my boss without sacrificing my boundaries and potentially putting my daughter in danger. So they bought us plane tickets on the condition that I pay them back with a little from each paycheck. I can't wait to tell my boss and show her the flight
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 05
    Font - +4-12 hr. ago Why not get fully refundable tickets, get approved time off, then refund the tickets and not travel? CoderJoe1 1.3k Reply Share
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 06
    Font - AHOY xwairpaintx OP. 12 hr. ago Because I've wanted to go on this trip since I found out my parents were going in January. It was $500 and I'm giving my parents $50 from each paycheck until it's paid off. Not a bad deal tbh and I'm really excited to see my family again, we moved across country 8 years ago and I've only seen them a handful of times since 948 Reply Share
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 07
    Font - red_wonder89 - 11 hr. ago I think the bigger issue is that pto is paid time off and OPs boss finding it not a good enough reason so she denied it. Like it's none of anyone's business why time off is asked. I'm telling you so you can prepare. OP good for you but also I'm sorry your boss is meddling 373 Reply Share
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 08
    Rectangle - superduperhosts - 12 hr. ago Next time do not request, inform. Email them, hey boss just a heads up I will not be in on X dates. 279 Reply Share
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 09
    Font - ASOV xwairpaintx OP. 11 hr. ago That's the plan with the plane tickets already paid for. Instead of asking her, I will be telling her that I'm leaving the state and won't be available those days 148 Reply Share :
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 10
    Font - Unlucky_Ladybug - 11 hr. ago Don't see how this is revenge or petty? 133 Reply Share
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 11
    Font - HurryingBog3049 · 9 hr. ago I agree.. I see this as manipulation actually.. OP said in one of the comments that they have wanted to go on this trip since January but couldn't afford it. Now their boss is being funny about them requesting the off (even though they aren't going).
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 12
    Font - IMO, this is the perfect opportunity to lay it on thick with the parents for them to give in and buy OP and child their tickets (I know they have to pay them back). I wonder if OP is an only child 55 Reply Share
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 13
    Font - thedjbigc 11 hr. ago I hope you have a good trip but I don't think this is going to play out like you are hoping. I hope I am wrong on that though.
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 14
    Font - 100pee 11 hr. ago No offense intended, but rejecting an Uber because you don't trust anyone with your daughter in the car is a bit over the top. That's an unrealistic boundary for someone with no car. That sounds more like "I don't want to do that because schlepping a car seat sucks, so I'm gonna make it a boundary" kinda thing. Uber drivers are safe enough, but in any event you have all of the safety equipment and risk to your child is minimal.
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 15
    Font - tehremy 11 hr. ago You're either a teenager or are clearly set in a bad way. I hope for your child's sake you get your head out of your Mommy and daddy won't be around forever, just a thought and opinion. This may be petty, but it's not really revenge. If you knew about it for that long, why wait until last minute to put the request in? That all just seems too petty when you're not even able to transport or shelter your child yourself
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 16
    Human body - Dickus Maximus_IV. 11 hr. ago Thats not revenge or petty, just kind of dumb
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 17
    Font - Dwindling Odds. 3 hr. ago. edited 2 hr. ago I'm ready to be downvoted into oblivion but this is either BS or extreme stupidity. None of this seems logical. First, if your boss already disapproved the non- vacation time off, why would the fact that you later bought plane tickets make any difference to your boss?
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 18
    Font - Second, in addition to the lost pay for those days, you now have a debt to your parents to pay for those tickets. Seems like a foolish "cut off your nose to spite your face" move.
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 19
    Font - Third, what's wrong with an Uber with a car seat? And if that's not acceptable to you there's always the bus, a bicycle, a ride from a friend, or even walking. Are you seriously depending on mommy and daddy to drive you everywhere you need to go?
    via u/xwairpaintx
  • 20
    Font - Finally, you've been living with your parents for two years already and this lack of transportation seems to be a problem. Why is it taking you so long to get a license? You still have two weeks before the wedding; get busy and get it done. And BTW - where is the revenge part of this story? OK, bring on the downvotes.
    via u/xwairpaintx

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boss FAIL revenge petty revenge reddit thread Reddit funny parents
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