'I have over 320 hours of annual leave banked': Boss wants employee to schedule surgery over Christmas so she doesn't have to take her PTO, employee claps back

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Sep 18, 2023 2:00 PM EDT

This certainly won't be the last time a selfish boss makes an outlandish suggestion. This employee has been working at the company for nearly four years and has saved more than 320 hours of PTO, yet when they were scheduling their upcoming surgery for January 2024, their boss suddenly took major issue with this decision.

First of all, let's all remind this Redditor that no matter how much control it may seem like her boss has, she is not your doctor and she has no right to make suggestions about your medical choices. Second of all, the suggestion for OP to schedule her surgery for the Holidays and have her be in total pain and recovery during that time is wildly selfish. We suggest that OP schedules the surgery but starts using those earned 320 hours immediately so that she can start looking for a new job with a more empathetic boss. Though there are many horrible bosses in this world, we are confident that most leaders in this day and age would let their employees get any medical procedures done when they choose. What a backward mentality!

Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the best comments. For more content like this, here are some wild workplace stories where entire teams quit at once. 

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  • 01
    Table - "Boss told me to reschedule my surgery" F
    via Charles Deluvio
  • 02
    Font - Boss told me to reschedule my surgery so it falls over Christmas. I'm at the last step before confirming my surgery date and made the mistake of mentioning to my boss that I'm aiming for January. She made a face and said "you know, when employees get surgery they try to do it over the Christmas break so they don't need time off for recovery"
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 03
    Font - I was a bit shocked she said this, so I reminded her I have over 320 hours of annual leave banked and should be able to take this time off. I would be giving her 3 months notice, and recovery should only be at maximum two weeks. Am I insane to be absolutely seething over this?
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 04
    Font - I never take annual leave because we are a small team (20) and I'm her executive assistant. It's been almost 4 years and the only time I have taken annual leave was 3 days for a wedding over a year ago. Now apparently I should spend my Christmas in pain recovering from surgery so I don't inconvenience her.
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 05
    Font - Few_Carrot_3971. 15 hr. ago Your boss sounds selfish. ↑ 2.4k Reply Share
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 06
    Font - Ironsam811 11 hr. ago . Time to start using that banked time to start looking for a new job 429 Reply Share
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 07
    Font - Bigel 7 15 hr. ago . Tell her you tried to book it during Xmas but they couldn't fit you in because that's when everyone books surgery apparently. The earliest they could do it is [insert your preferred date]. 1.2k Reply Share
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 08
    Font - Burt_Sprenolds. 14 hr. ago Yeah this is the way to go, just casually throw her words back in her face, and you don't sound like a O doing it. 348 Reply Share
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 09
    Font - GailynStarfire. 13 hr. ago Also, the time off would be a great time to look for a new job with a less boss. 4 148 Reply
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 10
    Font - Eastern_Inevitable39. 15 hr. ago You have 320 hours banked, how you spend your hours isn't up to her. Sounds like she's on a power trip 574 Reply Share
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 11
    Font - natfen1133 13 hr. ago Yeah they have 8 weeks of pto accrued, it is there to be utilized especially for medical leave. Perhaps after they recover they should go on a 6 week vacation 135 Reply Share
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 12
    Font - SpiderMadonna. 15 hr. ago You should be seething over this. She's acting like a ✪ and needs to check herself. Take some of the time you're owed and I hope you're able to not think anything more about it. 241 Reply Share
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 13
    Font - Grandtheatrix. 15 hr. ago Take ALL your time off, and search for a new job while you are recovering, and the moment your time is up, quit effective immediately. Ok. That. Boss. 182 Reply Share
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 14
    Font - Augustus_B_McFee 15 hr. ago That's as toxic as it gets. 107 Reply Share
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 15
    Rectangle - LIMBOUSS 15 hr. ago TONGUE You are owed your leave. Use it.
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 16
    Font - TheinimitaableG. 14 hr. ago start taking your annual leave, especially if you are in a state that does not require it to be paid out when your employment ends.
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726
  • 17
    Font - United-Donkey3478. 14 hr. ago Nope. The law is on your side on this one. File Fmla if need be, too. You tell them that surgery is scheduled on this day... period. See human resources. Have your medical paperwork with the doctor notes. Ignore the boss
    via u/AcanthocephalaTop726

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