'My manager forgot she approved my time off': Boss tries to write up employee for not showing up on approved PTO day, fallout ensues

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jun 22, 2024 8:00 AM EDT

Taking time off work simply should not feel like the stressful endeavor that it is. Since you're contractually entitled to that time, in theory, you should be able to submit your PTO request with no questions asked and no issues getting that request approved. Of course, in practice, it doesn't exactly work out that way.

Instead, you end up getting a lot of shade and passive-aggressive behavior, as if you're actively inconveniencing everyone else by giving yourself the vacation you deserve. What you're never getting from your employer is the validation that you have, in fact, earned this time and that you deserve to give yourself the opportunity to clear your head for as long as you may need. 

This employee fully got his PTO request submitted and approved by his manager well in advance… until the day actually arrived and his manager completely forgot about it. Instead of apologizing for her own error, she tried to shift the blame onto the employee and even attempted to write him up for her own mistake. Keep scrolling below for the full story and for the Redditor's subsequent update.

For more, check out this post about a list of the worst corporate gifts employees ever received. 

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  • 01
    My manager forgot she approved my time off and is now trying to write me up as a no call no show
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 02
    I (25m) work at a small office with only about 5 employees. Over a month ago, I put in a request to have this day off work for some personal business.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 03
    Well, I just got off the phone with the manager asking me where I'm at since I didn't show up to work at 8. I told her I took the day off.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 04
    She got upset and yelled at me that it's unprofessional to just decide to take the day off and not show up without telling anyone. But I had taken the day off. I had made the request and she had approved it. It was on the company calendar that I had taken off.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 05
    Am I in the wrong in any way here? Should it have been my responsibility to remind my manager that I had taken off or should it have been her responsibility to check the calender?
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 06
    Either way, it feels wrong to get written up as a no show when I requested the day off.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 07
    Dogmom2013 3 days ago Always have a paper trail to CYA for situations like this. I usually remind my boss as we get closer to time off about it, since he writes it on his wall calendar and doesn't always look at it.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 08
    if you have the trail or proof it was on the calendar I would bring it to the write up meeting and be like "please explain this write up to me"
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 09
    My manager forgot she approved my time off and is now trying to write me up as a no call no show (part 2) Since the previous post blew up unexpectedly, I'm providing a follow up.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 10
    I talked to my manager and managed to prove to her that I had requested off in advance. She is no longer writing me up, but still believes this whole situation was my fault because I should've reminded her of my scheduled day off instead of just not showing up.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 11
    I'm glad I'm not getting a write up, but that's still frustrating to get treated this way. I work hard for this company and rarely take days off. I just wanted one day off to have a three day weekend so I could decompress.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 12
    Thanks for all the support I received on my last post. Really helped me deal with the situation.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 13
    AUniquewsername. 17 hr. ago It 1,0000000000% is NOT YOUR JOB to make sure your manager does their job.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 14
    But here's the thing you're the one with less power and more to lose. So either you remind her and help her do her job, or you get on, and possibly fired.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 15
    Up to you, but it seems like reminding her is better than dying on principle. You're not wrong either way.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 16
    Combination_Various . 22 hr. ago Let it go. She's just trying to deflect since you made it clear that she dropped the ball It's not your job to make sure that your supervisor does her job.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 17
    Serious Internet6478 16 hr. ago I was in management for several years. Never once did I fault one of my employees for something that I forgot. Not their fault. They let me know a month ahead of time- if I forgot it's because I didn't make a note of it which is not on them. It's absurd that she's still trying to make it out like it's your fault, you gave her so much heads up. Glad you aren't getting written up.
    via u/Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 18
    9 10 11 12 "I had made the request and she had approved it. It was on the company calendar!"
    via Samantha Gades

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workplace-stories work stories toxic-workplace job work PTO Horrible Bosses reddit thread Reddit company vacation toxic-work-environment
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