'I'm not a child': Vacationing employee is several days late for work after being stranded by flight delays, then they get bombarded by a concerned boss, causing a heated debate in the comments

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Dec 7, 2024 9:00 AM EST

We see our coworkers more than we see our own family sometimes. It's disturbing, but it's entirely accurate since so much of an employee's life is spent on the job. So honestly, if someone were to ever go missing mysteriously, it would probably be their coworkers who noticed their absence first. Nothing like an empty desk chair to leave your cubicle-mates wondering if you'll ever actually return from vacation… 

This is the story of a concerned boss (perhaps borderline 'needy') who was caught bombarding his employee after their international flight was delayed post-vacation. While the worker had plenty of other problems on their mind–running from gate to gate and fumbling with their carry-on luggage–they left their boss wondering when, or if, they'd ever be returning. A simple update might have been nice, right? Understandably peeved on both sides, this boss/employee dynamic caused quite a heated debate in the comments section as fellow workers debated work/life balance as it relates to our work relationships and beyond.

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    Cheezburger Image 10436912896
    via Rido

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    my boss texted me today for an update after I told him twice I wouldn't be in today Time Off → so I went on vacation to another country. My flight was delayed 2 days. I texted my boss 36 hours
    via caveman123456
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    in advance letting him know this and that I would be missing work Monday. I also said I'm going to try to force a hand at the airport of which hardly anyone speaks English this was Saturday afternoon.
    via caveman123456
  • 04
    11am Sunday morning he texts me "any luck" which I respond to no. Which should reiterate that I'm not going to be into work Monday.
    via caveman123456
  • 05
    He texts me Monday at 6am "any updates" after my red eye. which I say i say I just landed and texted the whole delayed scenario to him. Which mind you I was at the airport for over 21 collective hours sorting this out.
    via caveman123456
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    He responds "all I ask is Next time can you keep us more posted" I say "I literally told you everything after I found it out. After I had a panic attack at the
    via caveman123456
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    airport. I kept you posted as much as I could. There was literally nothing I could do." Then he says "No need to take it out on me". Am I the a h le here ? Like what?????????
    via caveman123456
  • 08
    Pls NoNotThat No your boss is an a h le and stop encouraging the behavior by texting him.
    via PlsNoNotThat
  • 09
    Colinoscopy90 Nope. He's either a whiney baby that can't handle scheduling challenges or he's pressuring you to make you the bad guy for stereotypical control and ab e reasons. You're good.
    via Colinoscopy90
  • 10
    I'd reply "I'm not taking anything out on you, I'm just stating the facts. " be courteous and unrattled in your replies. Never give an inch.
    via Colinoscopy90
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    caveman123456 OP oh best believe I texted him backing saying "No im just saying, I let you know 36 hours in advance I wasn't going to be in today” making sure he knew this him not me. Which he responded "I thought you were still trying to get a switch. I must have misunderstood."
    via caveman123456
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    AndroSpark658 The ONLY thing I think he could have misconstrued here was you saying you'd be trying to see what you could do to get back ASAP and I'm betting he thought that meant there was hope. I'm not giving him a pass either because he's clearly a daft nugget and didn't read literally any other part of your messages.
    via AndroSpark658
  • 13
    jesuschristsuplex Unpopular opinion, but I can see where this miscommunication happened. You never told him that your flight was rescheduled for Monday morning, you just told him on Sunday you couldn't get a flight back and hadn't had any luck.
    via jesuschristsuplex
  • 14
    He had no idea when you would be getting back, so it effectively looked like you would be taking unscheduled PTO indefinitely. Obviously you were dealing with a really stressful situation and just trying to get back home ASAP, so this detail was accidentally missed.
    via jesuschristsuplex
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    It's also possible this individual is unreasonable or maybe you did update him on when you'd be getting back, but didn't include it in this post. But I think most employers would want to know when the flight was rescheduled for and how much more PTO you needed so they could find coverage.
    via jesuschristsuplex
  • 16
    penny-acre-01 Agree. Communication was not particularly clear. Also, what does a panic attack have to do with anything and how is it relevant? Boss could communicate better too, but just wants to know what's happening without any drama.
    via penny-acre-01
  • 17
    NervousBranch I understand that it's a stressful situation but you never said you were never coming in. Leaving such a small answer as "no" after asking for an update is quite unprofessional IMO. "Hey my flight is delayed and it seems like I won't be able to get a flight back on time. I won't be coming in on Monday."
    via NervousBranch
  • 18
    alexanderpas All the boss wanted to know if he needed to change the schedule for more days instead of just the monday, since he had no update from you since the last update on sunday where you indicated that you did not have a flight yet. For all he knew, you were still in the remote airport, still trying to get a flight.
    via alexanderpas
  • 19
    caveman123456 OP absolutely not. I told him I would miss Monday because I misread the rescheduled flight ticket. then reassured it the following day. He's it not my friend. You do not need to text me more than one time after I tell you I will not be in. I am a responsible capable adult. If there is an update he knows I will tell him. I'm not a child.
    via caveman123456
  • 20
    ChiWhite Sox24 Stop responding! First text was all you needed to send and nothing more.
    via ChiWhiteSox24

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boss worker work life balance employee manager job work coworkers working ceo employees PTO supervisor workplace company coworker business vacation
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