'I just sent an email to my HR with all the emails, texts, [and] call logs': Security guard gets boss fired over his nonstop pestering during their vacation time

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Sep 19, 2024 3:00 PM EDT

This person's boss seems way too obsessed with what she's doing in her spare time. More specifically, her boss just cannot let her take any time off without bugging her constantly! 

Some managers are so obsessed with keeping their workplace running that they start treating the workers like they're robots instead of human beings. Robots never need a break, but humans do. Robots have no feelings, but people can be bothered by incessant demands from their bosses. That's why many companies provide their employees paid time off (PTO) so that the employee can take a vacation without worrying about money. It's a nice way to say, "Thanks for all your hard work, we see and appreciate all you're doing." It's really a win-win situation: the employee gets to chill out and come back refreshed, and instead of dragging their feet, they're back to the workplace with a much happier attitude. Maybe no one told that to u/Pinkyrye's boss, but he certainly knows it now! 

This is one of those r/AmItheA****** posts that actually led someone to change their life. After feedback from commenters telling the original poster to take the issue to HR, she did. Luckily for her, she had plenty of evidence in writing that the boss was continually pestering her during her time off. 

After that, read about another employee who got back at their boss: this person discovered an "interesting detail" in their strict boss's plan. 

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  • 01
    Y
    via Annie Spratt on Unsplash
  • 02
    AITA-For ignoring my boss and blocking his number on my vacation My boyfriend (29 m) and I (26 f) are currently long-distance. We take turns visiting each other. He came to see me after almost two months of not seeing each other. We finally were to make plans. I requested to have five days off which was approved from my job. I've worked there for six years. I'm a security guard at a department store.
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 03
    It was after my shift, and I was heading out quickly. I had to pick my bf up from the airport. I clocked out, and while I was saying bye to everyone. My new boss of 2 weeks stopped me, and he asked if I could cover a shift. Since one of my co-workers called in sick. We're short-staffed, and he needs me to stay for a couple hours more. I had a 10-hour shift. I was exhausted.
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 04
    I responded no. I'm sorry, but I'm unable to do that, and I can't stay late. I have covered shifts before in the past. I don't mind, but I had somewhere to be. I mentioned I was picking up someone at the airport. He told me they could take an Uber. My boyfriend wouldn't be happy with me if I did to him. Also he has no key to my apartment.
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 05
    No one else wanted to stay, and I was the third person he asked to that said no. I said sorry, I can't just tonight, another time.
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 06
    He called me a lousy worker, and I'm not a team player. I said, guess I'm not a team player and I walked passed him. I called out. I'll see him in five days. While driving to the airport, I kept getting calls and texts from him; it got so bad that I had to pull over to turn off my phone. My boss wanted me to come back to work.
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 07
    I had to turn on my phone, so my boyfriend could contact me. My phone was flooded with text messages. Ding after ding I think : got close to 15 texts. I blocked his number.
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 08
    I was so happy to see my bf. I was getting emails from my boss constantly when I was supposed to be my time off. I didn't respond to and I rarely take vacation. One, he was asking me stuff that I didn't know the answer to. Second, even if I did, I'm not telling him. I don't know; I was starting to get petty.
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 09
    I still had fun with my boyfriend. When I went to work, my boss called me into his office. He blew up at me for being unprofessional, and he's still new to this job. I should've helped or at least replied to the emails. I responded other people could've helped him. It's not my responsibility when it's my vacation time. I got my first write- up ever.
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 10
    Is this something I'm missing? Did I do something inherently wrong here? I'm actually considering to report him. He is still new to his job. Am I the all ? Edit: I'm Canadian. I live in BC.
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 11
    Update: I just sent an email to my HR with all the emails texts call logs. And any other evidence I have. My job isn't like on call.So I don't understand why he was bothering me he is my age roughly. On a happier note me and my boyfriend are planning to move in together
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 12
    Edit I'm a security guard at a departmental store. I like my job. HR Is setting a meeting up for tomorrow with me and my boss. My boss Tried asking me out in his first week of working But I told him down (nicely).
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 13
    Edit Thank you for everyone's support. When I posted this I thought I was being a little dramatic. I'm glad I'm not the crazy one. I decided that I'm gonna look for a new job. I still wanna do security work but I'm just gonna move on. Don't worry I'm still going to complain about my boss And report him.
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 14
    Final update. My boss was fired.
    via u/Pinkyrye
  • 15
    NUT-me-SHELL NTA. You need to elevate this to HR. Your boss doesn't get to impede on your vacation time. Unless your contract states that you have to be available 24/7, he crossed major lines and needs to be held accountable for it.
    via u/NUT-me-SHELL
  • 16
    [deleted] NTA. You were on vacation. You are not obligated IN ANY WAY to work on your vacation. I would go to HR to get that write-up off your record.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 17
    pieridaered NTA What he did is unethical. He is a lousy boss with incredibly poor boundaries. Get yourself straight to HR and report him for harassing you on your vacation time. I would also formally request that time off be re-allocated to you as you had to spend
    via u/pieridaered
  • 18
    it worrying about your boss's reaction. In the US what he did would be a violation of labor law. Because he wrote you up for essentially taking your earned vacation, that would be considered workplace retaliation.
    via u/pieridaered
  • 19
    You really do need to report him. I guarantee you're not the only one he's doing this to, and it will only get worse.
    via u/pieridaered
  • 20
    ItsOmNominous NTA. Report that behavior and I hope you kept the texts, emails and call logs as proof. Many companies are very strict that you do not work off the clock. Even if it were PTO (you didn't specify but I wanted you to know it's even in that case.) That behavior was harassment and you should not have been retaliated against with a write up.
    via u/ItsOmNominous
  • 21
    disney_nerd_mom NTA. I'd take this up with his boss or HR. the calls, texts, emails, and name-calling are harassment.
    via u/disney_nerd_mom

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