‘That’s your problem, not mine': Micromanaging boss gets flustered when they realize they have no control over employees's PTO; gets put in their place

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 25, 2023 6:00 PM EST

PTO policy is something that employees are extremely familiar with. The moment they plop themselves in that ergonomic office chair on their first day of work, they're already looking for ways to get out of it. So if a manager were ever unsure of company PTO specifics, they might be able to ask one of their underlings for the line-by-line guidelines, but of course, every manager will ultimately show their dominance over employees by micromanaging company law. However, when a power hungry micromanager gets wind of a relaxed PTO setup, they might be a little flustered that they don't have the power to nullify their hardworking employees's vacations. 

Well, in our next story, a steadfast worker stands up to their pushy boss after getting their Christmas PTO questioned. After requesting a mere two days off just before the holidays, u/hearthealthqs gets completely reamed by their boss. Apparently nobody 'approved' those days off, but fortunately, OP knew the fine lines of the company PTO policy like the back of their hand. 

After this, here's another harrowing tale of another micromanaging boss who tries to control his employee's mileage stipend.

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  • 01
    r/antiwork Posted by u/hearthealthqs 20 hours ago My boss just asked me who's approving my PTO requests at a company that doesn't require approvals.
    via u/hearthealthqs
  • 02
    I joined this company in September and was told that PTO requests are automatic when you submit, meaning no one has to "approve." (i.e. the way it should be at every company as it's part of the contract but won't get into that).
    via u/hearthealthqs
  • 03
    My boss has been with the company 2 years and is well aware of this. So anyway I'm taking off Thursday and Friday and have enough hours so I put it through the system last week.
    via u/hearthealthqs
  • 04
    I mentioned that I'll be out to my boss and he goes "wait you're out?" And I said yes this Thursday and Friday, I'll be here next week to work on the project (we were discussing a project which is why this even came up). And again he goes "so you're out Thursday and Friday?" And I say (again) "yes the 21st and 22nd."
    via u/hearthealthqs
  • 05
    And then the is like "so who approved your PTO?" Knowing full well it doesn't need to be approved. It caught me off guard so I was just like uhh I'm not sure, I just put it through the system like I did at my last job. And then he's like "so no one approved it?" And I said again I don't know as it goes through the system automatically and I get an email saying it went through.
    via u/hearthealthqs
  • 06
    But then hear this, later in the convo, he goes "well yeah funny thing is i get emails when you submit a request but not [co- workers name] requests." So this 1. Knows PTO does not need to be approved 2. Even got the email that I'm out. 3. Acts like someone needs to approve the request 4. Acts like he never got the email.
    via u/hearthealthqs
  • 07
    And then he's like "this isn't about getting hung up on approving I just want to know when everyone's out" ... which is why you get the email And then he made me send him a calendar invite that I'm out those 2 days. How much better would the workplace be without these crazies? Only good thing is that this is giving me so much motivation to go into business for myself.
    via u/hearthealthqs
  • 08
    kiwimuz 20 hr. ago You micromanaging boss doesn't like not having control over this. ✩ 3.2k Reply Share hearthealthqs OP 20 hr. ago He's a Boomer who does little to no work and takes credit for my work, go figure.
    via u/kiwimuz
  • 09
    Ghostyped 18 hr. ago It to get caught off guard, but you really can't flinch with these turds. I used to be a lot less confident and when I would pause they would use that to walk over me and spout a bunch of bs that wasn't company policy. Now I just stare them in the eye and tell them what's going down and I get very little trouble from them in return. These are bullies looking to prey on weakness, don't show them any
    via u/Ghostyped
  • 10
    hearthealthqs OP 14 hr. ago Love that way of thinking. I've only been in the workforce like 2 years but it's crazy how the crazies will walk all over you if you don't stand up for yourself. It's so tough though because the company is your bread and butter sadly.
    via u/hearthealthqs
  • 11
    Ghostyped 2 hr. ago They spent a lot of resources training you and getting up knowledgable. As much as they like to say they can just fire you for any reason, they're also damaging their bottom line by doing so. You'd be shocked at how little reprisal there is for confidently standing up for yourself
    via u/Ghostyped
  • 12
    SicnarfRaxifras 15 hr. ago Sounds like every unnecessary manager ever - it's why they want people to return to the office. It's not because people are more efficient or productive in an office, it's because with people being productive and efficient without supervision it scares the out of them that companies will realise they don't actually get any value out of middle-management
    via u/SicnarRaxifras
  • 13
    hearthealthqs OP. 14 hr. ago Yes!! I never knew how meaningless middle management was until I started working full- time. They literally have a group of people doing all the work (the "subordinates") and they pretend to be some bridge between us and the top of the company. A pointless, costly bridge. And then to make it less obvious they pretend it's "their" work as well, when I'm reality it's us doing it and them adding their name to it.
    via u/hearthealthqs
  • 14
    Difficult Age354 14 hr. ago . Oh, this is so true. My manager keeps not sharing data to make herself inevitable and the shocked face when her manager comes directly to any of us, skipping her because she never bothers to understand requests, just panics and forwards it to someone in the team. She would be the biggest cost saving at this point for our dept.
    via u/Difficul_Age354
  • 15
    hearthealthqs OP 13 hr. ago Omg yes. The shock when someone skips them bc they are pointless lol. And oh absolutely, always stressing us about cost savings too, like bud let me show you my presentation on how we can save multi- millions if we toss out the unnecessary ones. Oh what, you don't wanna hear that and you want me to pull out "savings" from my ;?
    via u/hearthealthqs
  • 16
    DonNemo 18 hr. ago I always flat refuse to create calendar events for people when I'm out. I provide them access to my calendar and tell them. If they want my time on their calendar, that's a task for them. 48 Reply Share hearthealthqs OP 18 hr. ago Yes exactly! Like you get the email, if that's not enough that's your problem not mine.
    via u/DonNemo
  • 17
    RecognitionSame2984 5 hr. ago You micromanaging having control over this. Nothing like shoving it into his face: "Who approved your PTO?" "Nobody did." boss doesn't like not 11 "Then you can't go!" "...meh, this isn't how this works *shoulder clap*."
    via u/RecognitionSame2984
  • 18
    lloopy 14 hr. ago SocDem People don't quit jobs. They quit bosses. When you find a better job, say this in your exit interview. Say this and nothing else.
    via u/lloopy
  • 19
    tzwep 20 hr. ago Whoever hired your boss, is probably similar. 70 Reply Share Actrivia24 15 hr. ago 100%. Insecure people hire insecure people
    via u/tzwep
  • 20
    CowBoyDanIndie 17 hr. ago "I am, it was a tough decision but ultimately I had to grant approval to myself" 25 Reply Share coffeethulhu42 17 hr. ago "Whi approves your PTO?" "Our corporate policy as outlined by HR. You should probably talk to them if you need further clarification."
    via u/CowboyDanIndie
  • 21
    Darrenizer 19 hr. ago Sounds like he expects you to ask his permission to put it through the system. Reply Share... 39 hearthealthqs OP 18 hr. ago This is it.
    via u/Darrenizer
  • 22
    Ready-Strategy-863 19 hr. ago Your boss handled it badly, however I would like to know when my team members are out so I can plan accordingly and not give them stuff that needs to be completed when they are on pto. He needs to get HR to fix it so he gets the mail. 59 Reply Share ... hearthealthqs OP 18 hr. ago He does get it apparently, so he knows. He just doesn't like the part where he doesn't have an option to "approve" Imao
    via u/Ready-Stradegy-863
  • 23
    LaughableIKR 18 hr. ago Wow. He was gaslighting big time. He got the email when you submitted it last week and is surprised. I wouldn't ever bring up my time off to him again. He gets notified when you submit it. Let him read his emails. I mean you sent him a calendar invite. Your OOO should suffice in the future. It isn't in the employee handbook to send meeting invites for days off to your boss right? If he goes 100% nuts on you. Start applying somewhere else or move positions in the company.
    via u/LaughableIKR
  • 24
    "He is gaslighting you big time"
    via u/canva

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christmas boss worker micromanager employee manager job work coworkers working time off micromanaging ceo employees PTO supervisor workplace company coworker business holidays vacation
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