25-year-old employee gets written up by supervisor for not coming into work during his approved time off: ‘It’s not your job to make sure that your supervisor does her job’

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jun 29, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

Who else is tired of dealing with the consequences of a supervisor's mistake? This employee, who rarely ever takes time off work, put in a PTO request months ago that was fully approved. It wasn't even a long vacation, but rather a three-day weekend to decompress as he was experiencing burnout. His supervisor approved it, and everything was set for a nice day off for the employee.

Unfortunately, however, when the day finally came, the employee's temporary vacation was interrupted by frustration from his supervisor for not showing up to work. Clearly, she had forgotten that this was the day she approved months ago. One would think that after explaining this to her, she would have backed down and apologized… but nope! He was still written up. Keep scrolling below for the full story along with reactions from several members of the online community and a subsequent update from the employee!

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    Cheezburger Image 10522956288
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • Be sure to stay tuned for the employee’s update, which only further proves how insecure his supervisor was. She could only acknowledge her error so much but still had to find a way to make it seem like the employee was partially at fault here for not reminding her of his day off. This was especially annoying because the approved day was fully noted in the company calendar!

  • 02
    I (25m) work at a small office with only about 5 employees. Over a month. ago, I put in a request to have this day off work for some personal business.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 03
    Well, I just got off the phone with the manager asking me where I'm at since I didn't show up to work at 8. I told her I took the day off.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 04
    She got upset and yelled at me that it's unprofessional to just decide to take the day off and not show up without telling anyone. But I
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
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    had taken the day off. I had made the request and she had approved it. It was on the company calendar that I had taken off.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 06
    Am I in the wrong in any way here? Should it have been my responsibility to remind my manager that I had taken off or should it have been her responsibility to check the calender?
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 07
    Either way, it feels wrong to get written up as a no show when I requested the day off.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 08
    Dogmom2013. Always have a paper trail to CYA for situations like this. I usually remind my boss as we get closer
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
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    to time off about it, since he writes it on his wall calendar and doesn't always look at it.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 10
    if you have the trail or proof it was on the calendar I would bring it to the write up meeting and be like "please explain this write up to me"
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
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    Cheezburger Image 10522956544
    via Unsplash+ (Getty Images)

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

  • 12
    My manager forgot she approved my time off and is now trying to write me up as a no call no show (part 2) Since the previous post blew up unexpectedly, I'm providing a follow up.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 13
    I talked to my manager and managed to prove to her that I had requested off in advance. She is no longer writing me up, but still believes this whole situation.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 14
    was my fault because I should've reminded her of my scheduled day off instead of just not showing up.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 15
    I'm glad I'm not getting a write up, but that's still frustrating to get treated this way. I work hard for this company and rarely
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
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    take days off. I just wanted one day off to have a three day weekend so I could decompress.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 17
    Thanks for all the support I received on my last post. Really helped me deal with the situation.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 18
    AUniquewsername. 17 hr. ago It 1,0000000000% is NOT YOUR JOB to make sure your manager does their job.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 19
    But here's the thing - you're the one with less power and more to lose. So either you remind her and help her do her job, or you get on, and possibly fired.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 20
    Up to you, but it seems like reminding her is better than doing on principle. You're not wrong either way.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
  • 21
    Combination_Various 22 hr. ago Let it go. She's just trying to deflect since you made it clear that she dropped the ball It's not your
    via Midwestern_Nerd52
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    job to make sure that your supervisor does her job.
    via Midwestern_Nerd52

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workplace-stories employee work stories toxic-workplace job work overworked-employees Horrible Bosses bad bosses company toxic-work-environment
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