Chief operating officer calls employee "unprofessional" for not answering the phone during PTO days: 'Is this old school thinking?'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Feb 20, 2025 1:00 PM EST

PTO days are precious. We look over them and protect them like they are eggs and we are the mama bird, building a nest so they may be safe. We store them up and save them for a special occasion. The more we have, the more secure we feel. And when we're using them, we're sure to maximize the pleasure we get from them. We need them to survive so that we can survive. We need things on the calendar to look forward to, or else we'll just waste away at our desks forever. Every now and then, we need to have a beautiful day where we look around and say "Wow, I could be at work right now. But I'm not."

It isn't always the easiest to look after these days, though. Sometimes employers don't have the same respect for them as we wish they would. And sometimes, they do the unthinkable and call us on our days off. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10469720064
    via Unsplash+ (Daniel J. Schwarz)

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

  • If you're a small business owner or the president of a huge company, perhaps you could expect this. When you signed up for the job, you knew it wouldn't stop being important just because you're on vacay. But that's not most of us. And it wasn't this worker, who found out his employers expected more of them than they could give. Read on for the story and see what you would have done.

  • 02

    TIL it's "unprofessional" to have your work phone off while on approved and planned PTO

    I'm in middle management. I was told by my field supervisor that my COO asked him to call me in front of him. When I didn't answer, my supervisor told my COO that my phone was off. He then told me supervisor that I'm "unprofessional" and should be available for my team.
    via u/Coach_CRP
  • 03
    AITAH because I shut my phone off during my PTO? I have instructed my entire team to do the same when they're on PTO. I am only in middle management but I firmly believe if you're using your earned time, nobody should be bothering anybody.
    via u/Coach_CRP
  • 04
    Is this old school thinking? Should I plan to look elsewhere? Do I have an argument if I'm confronted about it when I return?
    via u/Coach_CRP
  • 05

    Other workers chimed in to call out this behavior.

    Shrek_on_a_Bike • 17h ago It's unprofessional to call an employee who is on PTO. Off is off.
    via u/Shrek_on_a_Bike
  • 06
    mi... 17h ago Edited 15h ago Phone calls go unanswered for a variety of reasons. Your only response, if asked, should be "I didn't get the call".
    via u/mildOrWILD65
  • 07
    UnusualSeries5770 • 17h ago yeah, your COO is unprofessional and frankly, a piece of sh for calling someone on PTO
    via u/UnusualSeries5770
  • 08
    Born-Finish2461 · 16h ago Upon returning from vacation, I'd go straight to HR and ask if there is anything in your job. contract about being on call while using vacation leave? Assuming there isn't, ask them to e-mail confirmation of that to you and to your boss.
    via u/Born-Finish2461
  • 09
    Cheezburger Image 10469720320
    via Unsplash+ (Molly the Cat)

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

  • 10
    The Cold Wind • 16h ago . Every grown up decent professional in the world knows not to call people on PTO, or should. This is just below calling someone at their Moms funeral.
    via u/TheColdWind
  • 11
    Coach_CRP OP • 17h ago . When working I'm always available. I'm new to the company, my contract does not have any language about 24/7 availability in it. And I'm feeling like I'm going to hold the line on this as a boundary. I'm middle management. I accrue 3 point something
    via u/Coach_CRP
  • 12
    hours a per pay period (every two weeks). I followed protocol and gave plenty of notice. Accruing that little in PTO takes months to get enough to have a decent amount of time away. If they sincerely feel it's "unprofessional" of me to enjoy the time I've earned. Maybe I'm not a fit for them.
    via u/Coach_CRP
  • 13
    RobinsonCruiseOh · 16h ago Sr manager here. that is an a h le COO. When my people go on PTO I do NOT have any expectations that I will hear from them at all. This is a different standard than what I hold myself to. if my devs have questions while I
    via u/RobinsonCruiseOh
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    am on PTO and if I can answer I will. But I am responsible for the multi- million dollar project so it is my reputation on the line if we have problems.
    via u/RobinsonCruiseOh
  • 15
    1Pip1 Der 17h ago NTA-time off is your time. Ask them if it's OK to get paid for working in addition to the PTO pay if you take a business call during time off. If not, don't take the call.
    via u/1Pip1Der
  • 16
    CodeToManagement • 17h ago Your manager is being a As a manager I give people my contact details if I'm not around and would be ok with being called
    via u/CodeToManagement
  • 17
    For me to actually call someone else on time off the company would have to be facing like an immediate collapse. I can't imagine ever doing it over something that wasn't like incredibly business critical where they are the one and only person who can save us -> and if you're in that situation someone has really f ed up by not cross training people. to ensure cover.
    via u/CodeToManagement
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    There should be absolutely no expectation you're contactable while on time off. Even if it's just a regular weekend
    via u/CodeToManagement
  • 19
    Embarrassed Pudd... 16h ago Maybe it's unprofessional to call an employee when they're off.
    via u/EmbarrassedPudding22
  • 20
    Professional_List2... • 17h ago The fact that you are questioning if YTA explains how f ed up is the working culture, and all because of CEO, COO, Owners, etc.
    via u/Professional_List236
  • 21
    RevolutionaryJob... . 14h ago leave that place. Huge red flag. PTO is your time off. Unless you're like an on call neurosurgeon then no not unprofessional. Imo they are being very unprofessional. I feel like the COO is one of those guys that obtains a higher position but hasn't really earned it.
    via u/RevolutionaryJob6315
  • 22
    asyouwish • 13h ago Whomever told you this is wrong. Always say that you are going to a mountain or an ocean and won't have signal.
    via u/asyouwish
  • 23
    hornakapopolis • 13h ago You were absolutely unprofessional ...hopefully. You were not partaking in your profession.
    via u/hornakapopolis
  • 24
    As a matter of fact, you were being Paid for Time Off of your profession. "Time Off" is literally in the description of what you were doing. "'Time off' of what?" ...your profession. So, I'd hope you were being unprofessional. Of course, you might want to find a better way to word this explanation to him. (But if not, feel free to make a visual aid. Use crayons.)
    via u/hornakapopolis
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    TheShoot141 · 16h ago . Its all relative. My perspective is that for a lot of positions PTO is time off not working. But Ive been in director positions where I need to be able to answer the phone in case of emergency. I took the job with that full
    via u/TheShoot141
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    understanding and decided the pay was equal to the amount of work. Im being paid salary, I dont punch in and out. I have duties and responsibilities that I am expected to handle without being micromanaged. Those things dont just stop because I want to go to the beach. Ive
    via u/TheShoot141
  • 27
    also seen finance bros on their laptop on their wedding day. It was my example but cranked to an extreme. These dudes make insane amount of money, but work so many nights and weekends and even wedding days. So its all a choice over work/life balance and compensation.
    via u/TheShoot141

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