'Bringing my work laptop is out of the question': Company asks worker if they can be 'reachable' during PTO days, employee shuts them down

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jan 30, 2025 12:00 PM EST

Before cell phones, the working world was a different place. Namely, your employer had no way to be in touch with you when you weren't at work, let alone ask you to work while you weren't there. The internet, technology, and all that have been great for workers in some ways (remote work allows more people to hold full-time jobs, and gives workers flexibility), but we have hit some snags when it comes to work/life balance. If we can be constantly reached, then what's stopping our bosses from constantly reaching us? Decency and the willingness to continue to employ us… and not much else. 

So is it up to workers themselves to draw boundaries over their working hours? Possibly. There are many grey areas, though, that cause some internal debate. When do you decide to pay a little favor to your company, and when do you decide to prioritize yourself? These are difficult distinctions. 

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    Fernes cience toptal TE roov goodfinest Bitscience
    via Anastasiia Nelen

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • That's what happened in this story when a worker was forced to draw an uncomfortable line with their manager regarding paid time off. But they were left feeling unsure about whether or not they had handled the situation in a way that wouldn't harm them down the line. Read on for details and decide for yourself. 

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    Manager asked if I will be "reachable" during my vacation

    A lot of people in my office take phone calls and sometimes log into their work laptop to check emails and do a bit of work during PTO. My manager asked if I'll be doing the same during my 2 weeks off coming up in Feb. I basically just said no lol.
    via u/Imaginary_Refuse_239
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    Should I feel guilty about this? At my previous job, the manager would never ask that of anyone. So seems a bit odd to me. But then again I came from a large company with an HR department that probably has rules against that, to a small private company with less rules sort of speak.
    via u/Imaginary_Refuse_239
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    Is this a normal ask? For context, I'll be backpacking in Europe so I'm packing as light as possible. Bringing my work laptop is out of the question.
    via u/Imaginary_Refuse_239
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    Other workers chimed in to put this employee at ease with their decision.

    Embarrassed_Flan... 4h ago H I no, you shouldn't feel guilty. You're on vacation! Now, without knowing your manager, it may not be a negative/judging thing. If your have coworkers who are reachable, they may be just checking to know.
    via u/Embarrassed_Flan_869
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    Imaginary_Refuse_239 OP 4h ago Seems to be the case. from what I can tell, my manager respects that PTO is PTO.
    via u/Imaginary_Refuse_239
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    Battered Onion Rings 3h ago . Agreed. At my old job I would try to be reachable on vacation. When you have a job you care about and there are things only you know or know how to do, the idea that things could be falling apart without you can be more stressful than checking your work email and making sure they aren't.
    via u/BatteredOnionRings
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    I don't think it should ever be an obligation unless you're the majority owner of your workplace or POTUS, but I don't think people should feel their wanting to be reachable puts pressure on others to be, when they're just trying to be conscientious, or to do what lets them enjoy their own vacation best. Managers should feel bad if they take that and make it a standard for other employees.
    via u/BatteredOnionRings
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    Cheezburger Image 10460888832
    via Unsplash+ (Andrej Lišakov)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    JustNKayce • 4h ago Unless you are so important that if you're not there they will either hang a closed sign on the door or people will di, then the answer is no. If you feel the need to soften it, say, I will not have reliable service.
    via u/JustNKayce
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    Pristine_Resource_... . 4h ago "Yes, you can reach me by postcard" Doesn't matter if it's a normal ask. Doesn't matter if other people do it. Unless you're being paid, you shouldn't be working.
    via u/Pristine_Resource_10
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    seanocaster40k • 4h ago The answer to this is always no. You are taking PTO which you worked for. Being available on vacation is wage theft.
    via u/seanocaster40k
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    Western_Unit5094 • 4h ago I worked for a large telecom and my manager would text (and even called me once) during my vacation time on my personal phone asking if I would log in and approve a journal or update something. I didn't reply nor answer until I
    via u/Western_Unit5094
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    was back in the office. He'd also email us while away on his vacation time (while we had a stand-in manager to take care of his role while away). I get it, some people live to work but i am the opposite and work as little as I can so I can enjoy life. You're just a number in their eyes. So no, don't feel guilty.
    via u/Western_Unit5094
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    Ok_Addendum_8115 · 4h ago Nope! Enjoy your vacation, don't answer your work emails and calls on vacation!
    via u/Ok_Addendum_8115
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    All HailKingCorbin33 • 4h ago Should you feel guilty? Lol no. "Hey, will you be reachable?" "Possibly, but I won't be reaching back. Cheers!"
    via u/AllHailKingCorbin33
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    Shot-Artichoke-4106 • 4h ago . I work for a company where people tend to be reachable during vacation. They drag their laptops all over the place, do work in the mornings before their family gets up, and all sorts of BS. I
    via u/Shot-Artichoke-4106
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    do not. I travel light and don't take anything for communication beyond my phone. Sometimes I go places without internet or cell service. I have trained them all to know that I am not one of those people who will be available.
    via u/Shot-Artichoke-4106
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    . PorchDogs 4h ago I do not do home things at work. I don't do work things at home. I will not be available or reachable during my scheduled time off. Full stop.
    via u/PorchDogs
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    Holiday_Pen2880 • 4h ago You shouldn't feel guilty for not being reachable. It's your PTO to do with how you see fit. Some people may choose to do some work during their PTO. It might be because of 'expectations' or it may be because it's stress relief for them that it's one less thing they'll have to deal with when they get back.
    via u/Holiday_Pen2880
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    If it was just an idle question, I wouldn't put all the venom into it that a lot of commenters here are. It could simply be the manager, well - managing.
    via u/Holiday_Pen2880
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    Because a number of people on this team DO work on PTO (not getting into the should they or not, see above) the manager may not fully cover low-priority items because they will get handled in an appropriate timeframe.
    via u/Holiday_Pen2880
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    You've said you will not be doing this, meaning anything coming to you will need to be addressed by someone. Which, yes, is how it should be but isn't how it has been. To me, the question in itself is not problematic, the environment MAY be (but I've also worked with a lot of Type A people who refuse to let themselves be off or handoff a project no matter what a manager says) but that's for you to judge.
    via u/Holiday_Pen2880

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boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job bosses work coworkers working reddit story toxic-boss PTO workplace reddit thread bad bosses Reddit toxic-work-environment
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