Boss approves PTO day and then rejects it the day before employee's planned absence: 'Nobody wanted to cover for me so I was expected to come in'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Feb 10, 2025 5:00 PM EST

Paid time off is one of the great things about working a salaried job. You can take a vacation and not worry about money you might be losing out on. This is important for your mental health as a worker. They say that the days before your vacation (when you're anticipating it) are even better for you than your actual days off. Sure, this sounds a little bleak, but it goes to show just how important time off is. Not only does it allow us to live our regular lives, it helps us be better workers. 

And the thing about PTO is that you should be able to take it pretty much any time you want to, within reason. They've already given it to you upfront, so they can't be mad when you avail yourself of it. Except that it's not always as simple as it is. Sometimes when staffing is tight, workers end up paying the price for bad deeds they did not commit. 

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10464904704
    via Daria Mamont

  • That's what happened in this story when an exemplary employee requested time off with plenty of notice, had it approved verbally by their boss, and then had it swiftly taken away right before the big day. Read on for the details and decide how you would have reacted. 

  • 02

    Boss approved my PTO and then retracted it the day before I was supposed to take it.

    As the title says. My boss wants a weeks notice if we're planning to use PTO. As soon as I found out my friends boyfriend was planning to propose and have an engagement party, I requested the Thursday of 2-6-2025 off. I did this a little over a week in advance. We are short staffed, yes, because someone got fired. However I did have a coworker working with me.
    via u/ThrowRA88798
  • 03
    Well, we butted heads last week, he broke a company policy and I made my boss aware of it privately before the end of shift about 5 am (he as supposed to be asleep). During pass down he sent the image to my coworker as we did pass down, which made my coworker mad at me and walk out. I asked my boss why he'd do that and he said it's because the issue needed to be addressed asap.
    via u/ThrowRA88798
  • 04
    Well he moved my coworker to weekends permanently so I'm by myself till they hire someone new. I asked how this would affect my PTO for next week and he told me not to worry about it they'd find someone to cover for me when him and I were doing a verbal passdown.
    via u/ThrowRA88798
  • 05
    Well, I wake up yesterday and see my previously approved PTO was denied. He emailed me saying nobody wanted to cover for me so I was expected to come in. I told him I already had made arrangements to assist with this secret engagement party and would be planning to be out of town. He said to bad basically.
    via u/ThrowRA88798
  • 06
    I told him such short notice was extremely unprofessional on his end especially when he said I'd be covered. He then responded that the decision was final and I will be expected to be at work today. I have done everything he has ever asked, covered for people, stayed over, gotten all my work completed when others hadn't, etc. Someone suggested I take this situation to HR, but idk what to do. I'm exhausted and already looking at other jobs. I'm tired of being treated like this.
    via u/ThrowRA88798
  • 07

    Other workers chimed in to affirm their right to be upset at their boss.

    Liselyn • 7h ago H I no. His inability to handle situations appropriately and find coverage is absolutely not your problem. The ship has sailed, either he covers you or you resign. Either way, go and enjoy the heck out of the engagement!
    via u/Liselyn
  • 08
    DutchcourageNL • 6h ago Send HR an email with a copy of the approved PTO request informing the of this situation and that you will not be in. Also, send it BCC to your private email!
    via u/DutchcourageNL
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10464904960
    via Paul Hanaoka

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

  • 10
    Neat-Ostrich7135 • 7h ago . We have no one else, it's essential you come in on day X. I can't If you don't we'll fire you You have someone else for days abcdefghijk etc then?
    via u/Neat-Ostrich7135
  • 11
    tumbleweeds Seems like they will be closed on your pto day then.
    via u/Neat-Ostrich7135
  • 12
    Pottski 7h ago . PTO is a heads up. Unless it is wildly unreasonable any company should honour it. Power games by petty men just doesn't make sense.
    via u/Pottski
  • 13
    oOGeorgesoo .7h ago You are an adult and a citizen. You don t ask permission to be absent. You merely inform the work organiser/planner you won t be there.
    via u/oOGeorgesoo
  • 14
    daheff_irl ⚫ 6h ago nope. PTO approved already. if he doesnt like it tough.
    via u/daheff_irl
  • 15
    Pale_Conclusion_... .7h ago Tell your ex boss that that's not going to work. Fair well on all future endeavors. Enjoy your life. Sick of these so-called bosses think people are robots. You put
    via u/Pale_Conclusion_8862
  • 16
    your pants leg on one at a time, you blad same color. I will be treated with respectful. Cause truthfully they don't care about you, and I could careless about them or their business.
    via u/Pale_Conclusion_8862
  • 17
    Eclectic_Crone • 5h ago Not your problem. This kind of situation is HIS responsibility and the reason he is paid more than you. Start looking for a new job and don't let him bu y you into compliance. Stand up for yourself.
    via u/Eclectic_Crone
  • 18
    Ted BundysVlkswa... . 4h ago No take backsies. That's the whole point of an approval ahead of time.
    via u/TedBundysVlkswagon
  • 19
    Lonely_Apartmen... 4h ago PTO = I am not going to be here on a certain date. It is me just be considerate enough to give you a heads up.
    via u/Lonely_Apartment_644
  • 20
    No_Eggplant6269 · 5h ago You are giving. You have a paper trail so take pics of it to keep in case but send to HR. If they fire you, then sue
    via u/No_Eggplant6269
  • 21
    prpslydistracted • 3h ago Inform him you will be taking your PTO. You're going to be fired anyway, count on it. It's on him.
    via u/prpslydistracted
  • 22
    Low-decibel • 7h ago . Pto = Prepare The Others
    via u/Low-decibel
  • 23
    Far_Tale9953 · 4h ago . Do you have a company handbook of any kind? What are the company rules about PTO? The week in advance thing made me laugh because that's what they do to us as well and I've never worked anywhere where I
    via u/Far_Tale9953
  • 24
    haven't been able to use my PTO when and how I see fit. The job I'm at now is unbelievable and really doesn't want you to take PTO except in a week's chunk. What I was told is unless there is some kind of
    via u/Far_Tale9953
  • 25
    a company rule that says you can only take your PTO in X situation, if you've done what they asked i.e., getting "approval" a week in advance unless it says something in your rule book about they can take it back at their convenience I might take this to HR as well. The
    via u/Far_Tale9953
  • 26
    last time I asked to use PTO my boss responded that "yes, it's approved for you to come in late." I emailed back and said I am not "coming in late" which has a negative connotation but I am using some of the PTO time that I've earned.
    via u/Far_Tale9953

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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 paid time off toxic-work-environment
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