'I am not going to budge': Boss "forgets" about employee's leave, coerces them to stay and cancel their trip

The process of booking leave exists for one reason and one reason only: So that managers can maintain some control over staffing levels ensure the continuity of the business and make sure that everyone doesn't all go and take off at the same time. 

The thing is, this takes—well… managing. You, the manage-er, have to be able to manage your workers' leave requests and ensure that the business stays running while your workers get the time off that they need (and are entitled to) so that a little thing called "morale" stays high and your workers don't hate their jobs and send the company's productivity to the tip. 

Sure, it might be inconvenient at times, but it's your job. The intention of the process really isn't so that you can retain more direct control over your employees' lives (although some managers seem to think this is the case.) It also certainly isn't so that you can wave your hand and approve your employee's leave only to change your mind at the last moment and tell them that they can't go. 

 

Like what you see? Follow our WhatsApp channel for more.

Author image for Brad Dickson Brad Dickson
Advertisement

  • Unfortunately, that's what happened to this worker in the story that they shared with this popular online community that frequently sees workers sharing stories of the issues they're facing in the workplace. The worker shared messages of the exchange that occurred between them and their boss when their boss suddenly decided not to honor the leave request that had been approved months earlier. Despite resistance, the worker stuck to their guns and let their manager know that they wouldn't be coming to work on the approved dates.

    Readers applauded the worker's stand in the comments and derided the manager's attitude. One reader, who claimed to use the same scheduling and payroll software even chimed in to add that they didn't think it was possible that their manager wasn't aware of their approaching leave dates due to the nature of the software.

  • Advertisement
  • 01
    Posted by u/thanyou Manager forgot I requested time off 5 months ago and is making it my problem ← 10:48 C. I probably come by Yesterday 11:37 PM ● *49** Hey, I noticed you still have me scheduled next week. I requested the 8th thru the 16th off. I'll be available again Sunday the 17th. 10:43 AM Hi Im sorry, it was so long ago and I hope you remember at the time I mentioned we'd have to get closer to the date before :
    Via u/thanyou
  • 02
    10:43 AM Hi Im sorry, it was so long ago and I hope you remember at the time I mentioned we'd have to get closer to the date before I could actually approve it. There has been no mention of it again, admittedly, it slipped by in my memory. We need everyone to put their requests in through forward. moving I will take a look and see what I can do. We are sold out this weekend with all the snow we got, so timing is terrible. But I have some ideas. Would you be able to shorten your
    Via u/thanyou
  • 03
    time off by a day or two? I know you said you weren't going anywhere, just hay you had a friend visiting. If I can make sure time off, gets can cover most of those days. I have to rework the schedule. Please come by tomorrow so we can talk about it and everything else moving forward. 10:47 AM
    Via u/thanyou
  • Advertisement
  • 04
    With all due respect, that is simply not acceptable. I gave you guys notice in November. I won't be available until the 17th. I won't negotiate that. 10:52 AM SMS It's not that I don't want you to have time off but there's simply isn't coverage. That's why it has to be approved. I wanted to make sure I responded to your text from last night but we need to talk in person. We will work it out.
    Via u/thanyou
  • 05
    + Last updated at 11:16 AM Unpaid Time Off Refresh list Pending Mar 8, 2024 - Mar 16, 2024 (11:00 PM, 0 Hours) Submitted On: Nov 30, 2023 Text message I am not this kind of person usually am not going to budge on this. Sorry. usually but I 11:18 AM • MMS O
    Via u/thanyou
  • 06
    Hyacathusarullistad I'm a manager for a company that uses the same HR software (ADP) for scheduling, payroll, time off requests, etc. I use it every single day. Pending time off requests appear in the scheduling interface while a week's schedule is being created. It's not physically possible for your manager to have "forgotten" or "not noticed" your pending request when they created the schedule in question. Entering your shift and saving the schedule will have given them a notification of a con
    Via u/thanyou
  • Advertisement
  • 07
    Bitchinstein 9 hr. ago I wouldn't budge either. "Time off was submitted by policy through our scheduling app. Your forgetfulness is not my responsibility. I'll be in on the 17th.” Reply Share 1.2k . . yungflaquito 5 hr. ago This guy 170 Reply Share ●●●
    Via u/thanyou
  • 08
    Sternojourno 10 hr. ago That's the dumbest policy I've ever heard. "You'll have to wait until it's closer to the time off you're requesting so we can figure out if we have enough coverage before we approve it." Why bother asking in advance? And that manager just says it so casually, like it's a perfectly normal way of doing things. Reply Share 2.2k ●●● Pientiorism 10 hr. ago yea and when you request it closer to the date, they'll hit you with the "wow i'm going to need a longer heads up than thi
    Via u/thanyou
  • 09
    11tmaste · 9 hr. ago It's unpaid as well, so definitely Reply Share 486 them.
    Via u/thanyou
  • Advertisement
  • 10
    Several_Bicycle_4870 10 hr. ago They'll be fine. Manager will just have to do their role and fill in for you. That's the whole point of being a manager. 568 6D6F726F6E. 10 hr. ago Amen. Reply Share 58 ↓ Reply Share ●●●
    Via u/thanyou
  • 11
    Thaldrath 10 hr. ago Their inability to manage makes them a manager. It's literally the job title. 1.1k Reply Share 154 ●●● Maleficent_Mist366 10 hr. ago So they need to be fired or be demoted to normal worker Reply Share
    Via u/thanyou
  • 12
    opposuminmycashew · 9 hr. ago . If you don't tell them with enough time, they freak out, if you give them a lot of time in advance, they "forget". Enjoy your time off. Respectfully, that noise Reply Share 370
    Via u/thanyou
  • Advertisement
  • 13
    boringhistoryfan · 9 hr. ago So manager forgot about the leave requested but remembered all that you had told them about your plans for the leave? How very convenient. 232 Reply Share zadtheinhaler 5 hr. ago That hadn't escaped my attention either... 17 ↓ Reply Share GirlNext Door333 · 4 hr. ago Had to dig too deep to find this comment! Boss be lying bro. Reply Share 5
    Via u/thanyou
  • 14
    LkPlcd 10 hr. ago . Had a similar thing happen to me at my old job. Told them in June about a non-refundable vacation in August, they scheduled me anyway and told me to just call out everyday I was scheduled. One day I forgot to call out (because you know, I was on vacation) and then tried to give me a bunch of write ups when I got back. I quit a month later lol 304 Reply Share
    Via u/thanyou
  • 15
    Lionello95 9 hr. ago In germany, if a time off request is unanswered for a certain time, it will automatically be considered approved. You guys really lack basic laws. 341 Reply Share
    Via u/thanyou
  • Advertisement
  • 16
    Emotional_Breath_309 9 hr. ago Slipped his mind, but recalls details about your request... Hmm 135 Reply Share ...
    Via u/thanyou
  • 17
    Beer_before_Friends 9 hr. ago Forgot you requested time off but remembered you weren't going anywhere on your vacation. that guy. Reply Share 132 ●●● zadtheinhaler 5 hr. ago Yup, and if he gets called on that, OP will be called an or written up for I "insubordination". 410 Reply Share
    Via u/thanyou
  • 18
    Warodo 9 hr. ago edited 8 hr. ago Don't talk "in person". Have them say whatever it is they want to say on the record, by writting it down. 53 Reply Share 19 ●●● MindSufficient3334 - 8 hr. ago This. And absolutely do not spend your free time in person talking about your unpaid time off. They can talk on their dollar. Reply Share
    Via u/thanyou

Stay up to date by following us on Facebook!

Tags

workplace discussion employment issues antiwork workplace-stories jobs employment-discussion job work workplace Horrible Bosses employment in the workplace
Scroll down for the next article

Also From FAIL Blog

Hot Now

Update: Coworkers join forces to confront paralegal who blocks doors when he sees women approach: 'HR won’t do anything'

Update: Coworkers join forces to confront paralegal who blocks doors when he sees women approach: 'HR won’t do anything'

01
'They want her to [pay] $2,500.00': Neighbor fires back at HOA for forcing her to pay for landscaping area outside her property, HOA pays up

'They want her to [pay] $2,500.00': Neighbor fires back at HOA for forcing her to pay for landscaping area outside her property, HOA pays up

02
Mom defends 8-year-old daughter's right to read during family vacation, family members ask her to "reconsider": 'My MIL and FIL have spent the entire breakfast scowling at me'

Mom defends 8-year-old daughter's right to read during family vacation, family members ask her to "reconsider": 'My MIL and FIL have spent the entire breakfast scowling at me'

03
Professor tries to drop 22-year-old college senior from class based on one absence, student claps back with receipts: 'Will you please explain the policy to my professor?'

Professor tries to drop 22-year-old college senior from class based on one absence, student claps back with receipts: 'Will you please explain the policy to my professor?'

04
'My boss just decided water isn’t free anymore': Warehouse worker shares their frustration when their boss declares employees now need to buy water

'My boss just decided water isn’t free anymore': Warehouse worker shares their frustration when their boss declares employees now need to buy water

05
Employee faces retribution from employer after critically answering "anonymous" survey: 'It quickly became clear she could guess who wrote what'

Employee faces retribution from employer after critically answering "anonymous" survey: 'It quickly became clear she could guess who wrote what'

06
Advertisement