Devoted worker pushed to the brink after PTO revocation just weeks before long-awaited family vacation

Author image for Sienna Varady
Sienna Varady
Jun 21, 2024 7:00 AM EDT

To savor the fleeting periods of freedom between, you hustle throughout the year. It's a vacation here, a vacation there that helps us get through the trials of life. What would you do, then, if your manager abruptly declared that you were no longer qualified for vacation time after you had scheduled time off?

The story below is an account of frustrated employee. The original poster (OP) has been thinking about her family vacation for the last six months. But as the departure date drew nearer, issues began to arise. The manager of OP brought her in for a meeting just a few weeks before the vacation was scheduled to begin, apologizing that they were unable to approve the PTO. She was told that although she had first authorized her time off, she would now need to request that she report to work.

So, make sure to read the story below if you're curious about the details of the meeting where OP's PTO was denied, what happened next, and whether or not she took the vacation! When you're done, don't forget to read the story of the worker who quit the company without a word when he discovered that his micromanager was trying to prevent him from getting promoted!

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  • 01
    TIME REQUEST "Deal with it!" Last Name: man. First Name: Department:
    via canva
  • 02
    PTO denied but I'm not coming into work anyway
    via u/LilyPadLover_26
  • 03
    My family has a trip planned that will require me take off 1.5 days. I put in the request in March for this June trip and initially without looking at the PTO calendar my boss said "sure that should work". My entire family got the time approved and booked the trip. She then told me too many people (2 people) in the company region are off that day, but since our store has been particularly slow lately she might be able to make it work but she wouldn't know until a week before. So I held out hope
    via u/LilyPadLover_26
  • 04
    this week and she told me there's no way for it to work. By the way, I'm an overachieving employee that bends over backward any chance I get to help the company. This family vacation is already booked. My family and I discussed it and we think I should just tell her "I won't be in these days. We talk about a work/life balance all the time and this
    via u/LilyPadLover_26
  • 05
    is it. When it comes between work or time with family, family will always win. I am willing to accept whatever disciplinary action is appropriate, but I will not be coming into work those days." Thoughts?
    via u/LilyPadLover_26
  • 06
    KidKarez Go on your vacation please. Don't fold
    via u/KidKarez
  • 07
    mnlion33 When I was a teenager I had a retail job at an office supply store. Put in my request for a weekend off in the summer for a youth getaway at a cabin. Had it approved andon the calendar, but when it almost time the store manager announced we were doing inventory and
    via u/mnlion33
  • 08
    there would be no time off. I argued with him and he said if I went then I would be in trouble. Come back and he tried to quiet fire me by not scheduling me any hours. But jokes on him because all my adult co workers took the opportunity for some time off by having me cover for them. So I still ended up with a lot of hours. The manager was let go by the end of summer for some reason.
    via u/mnlion33
  • 09
    Responsible-Club9120 BURN! I hope you walked in with a big juicy smile on every shift lol
    via u/Responsible-Club9120
  • 10
    • SalsaRice 1 yr. ago For future reference, if anyone does that to you again (gives you zero or essentially zero hours to force you to quit), you can file unemployment since they are essentially forcing you to quit (as no one can be expected to live on like 2 hours of work a week). I believe the term for it is constructive dismissal.
    via u/SalsaRice
  • 11
    NeonPhyzics No one will remember that you cancelled your vacation for work except the members of your family
    via u/NeonPhyzics
  • 12
    sapphic_morena No one will remember that you cancelled your vacation for work except the members of your family A close friend of mine and his wife were supposed to go to Yellowstone this week. Had plane tickets and hotel arranged and everything. A few days before they were supposed to leave, he decided to stay and
    via u/sapphic_morena
  • 13
    she went alone because he had too much to catch up on at work/worried that he would get disciplined for his progress if he went on vacation. I just keep thinking to myself, man, you're not going to look back in 10 years and think, "I'm so glad I didn't go on that trip to Yellowstone with my wife! My job was worth it!" There's just no f ng way.
    via u/sapphic_morena
  • 14
    NeonPhyzics My management professor in my MBA program once said "No one is THAT important" If they can afford to fire you for taking time off, they can afford to let you take time off
    via u/NeonPhyzics
  • 15
    another-type Don't bring up disciplinary action. It's not your problem that the company can't handle 2 people being out at the same time with 3 months notice. Plus you're only gone for 2 days. Just call in sick for the 2 days you're gone, if they want to play it that way.
    via u/another-type
  • 16
    SimilarEconomics4 I think we all need to realize that an employer would fire us for anything. We need to start putting our families first and start living! Go on the vacation and just call in sick!
    via u/SimilarEconomics4
  • 17
    CrazyCatLady1978 I'm fully expecting to have the same conversation this week. Family coming in to visit for a few days, approved 2 months ago. But due to manager not planning for me to be gone, there are meetings scheduled. He can and will handle them without me. There is no reason for me to be there in the first place, but I am not canceling because the manager can't
    via u/CrazyCatLady1978
  • 18
    plan. The only reason he wants me there is because he can't handle communicating with anyone and thinks I'm a personal secretary. Tell them that you aren't able to cancel the trip, go, have fun and let the chips fall where they may.
    via u/CrazyCatLady1978
  • 19
    Wombat_on_Parole Call out sick. Let them fire you. File for unemployment if it comes to that. Keep fighting it. Say "I lost my job through no fault of my own". Do NOT quit like others have suggested. Let them make the move.
    via u/Wombat_on_Parole
  • 20
    twotonekevin Bingo. Never quit. If you quit, can't get unemployment to tide you over between jobs.
    via u/twotonekevin
  • 21
    jypfoto If you're prepared for any disciplinary action up to and including termination, then I think your decision has been made already.
    via u/jypfoto
  • 22
    Willbur8 Go and enjoy your family. You should have a point system of some sort even if you don't dedicated hard working employees are not easily replaced. Circumstances like this make you wonder if you should go the extra mile for management that acts like this
    via u/Willbur8
  • 23
    awhit35 "I don't feel well enough to come into work today" "I still don't feel well enough to come into work today"
    via u/awhit35
  • 24
    MeringueSignificant6 Rather than talk about consequences for yourself, bring up repercussions for THEM. Instead, mention how you wish you could bend over backwards for the team like usual. Remind them it would be a real shame if 1.5 days turned into indefinite leave. However you word it, don't say anything about punishments for yourself.
    via u/MeringueSignificant6
  • 25
    Also, don't quit. If you think they'll fire you, let that be on them. They would have to prove some form of wild negligence or incompetence to bar you from unemployment. Because of this, chances are good they won't pull the trigger.
    via u/MeringueSignificant6
  • 26
    WON TAKE ME ForsakenPoptart If they can't afford to lose two people for two days, there's no way they can afford to lose you permanently. You gave them notice of your leave, your responsibilities are met.
    via u/ForsakenPoptart
  • 27
    brujahahahaha Call in sick Or Make your statement, but don't bring up disciplinary action.
    via u/brujahahahaha
  • 28
    Melvinator5001 Go on vacation and when you return immediately start looking for a better job. Don't quit the one you have until you find something better.
    via u/Melvinator5001
  • 29
    oddessusss This isn't a request, I won't be available on these dates. Also start looking for new work asap and quit without notice.
    via u/oddessusss
  • 30
    ATXStonks • 1 yr. ago . Whats the benefit of PTO if you can't use it?
    via u/ATXStonks
  • 31
    BlackCardRogue I would tell her ahead of time. Explain that you will take unpaid time off if necessary, but that you're not going to be in. Calling in sick on these days is obvious and unprofessional. Talk to your boss and explain you are prepared to face any consequences of your actions, but that under no circumstances will you be working on those days.
    via u/BlackCardRogue

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