Employee is written up for not answering a work text while on vacation: 'They actually gave him a formal write up for delayed communication'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jul 8, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

When you're on vacation, you're on vacation. It's kind of the whole point. Unless you're a doctor and you're on the beach relaxing and someone yells, "Is anyone here a doctor?" you're off the hook for doing whatever it is that you do. You're off the clock. More than that, you're off the grid if you want to be. Nobody should be expected to answer work calls while they're on vacation because the key thing about it is that you're not being paid. If you're taking PTO, you're being paid to not be there. It would be counterintuitive if they needed you to be there.

That doesn't stop many employers from asking too much of their employees. Some people don't have the boundaries around work that they should, and thus assume others have the same issues. Sometimes people see vacation as simply being away from the desk, not away from the job. 

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  • 01

    My friend got written up for not answering a work text while on vacation

    I don't wanna mention the company name for privacy reasons, but this happened in Toronto. He booked a trip for his anniversary and literally gave a two months notice, cleared it with his manager and even set up his
    via u/Brilliant_Outcome634
  • 02
    Cheezburger Image 10526607872
    via Unsplash+ (Lala Azizli)

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

  • Like in this story, where a worker rightfully ignored a request his boss tossed him while he was taking time off. But instead of it being water under the bridge, like it should be, he came back to a formal, written warning. Read on for the story to see what happened. 

  • 03
    out of office thing in google calendar (that's what he told me). We work together btw just different departments. Like two days into the trip they sent him a "quick question" via Slack. He didn't reply (because he was literally on vacation) and when he got back, they actually gave him a formal write up for "delayed communication."
    via u/Brilliant_Outcome634
  • 04
    This guy bends over backwards for that place. He's never late, always hits his deadlines and even takes on way more than he's asked to. To see them treat him like that made me feel sorry for him. I ended up sending him a little surprise just to lift his mood (a
    via u/Brilliant_Outcome634
  • 05
    Maple Leafs jersey) and we ended up laughing about how ridiculous this whole thing was, but it still sh like I'm seriously was wondering what's even the point of PTO anymore if we're still expected to be on call 24/7?
    via u/Brilliant_Outcome634
  • 06

    Commenters came in with stories of their own.

    xpacean 2h ago I used to be a litigator at a large law firm. Before I got married, I had a sit-down meeting with our managing clerk, the person who handles court filings (both submitting them, and distributing mail that comes
    via u/xpacean
  • 07
    in). We went over every case I worked on, and who she should contact about each one if anything came up when I was gone. She had the list in email and paper format and we discussed each item.
    via u/xpacean
  • 08
    I was out for three weeks for the wedding and honeymoon. When I came back, I discovered I had an email from her the Tuesday after I got married, saying "hey, I hope you're enjoying your honeymoon. We just got a new complaint related to X case. What should I do about it?"
    via u/xpacean
  • 09
    In my state you have three weeks to respond to a complaint, or else the court may rule that you lose by default. When I saw this email I nearly choked and rushed over to talk to her. "Please tell me you went to [the person list for this on the case] after I didn't respond... right?"
    via u/xpacean
  • 10
    Why do people assume you're checking internal communications on vacations???
    via u/xpacean
  • 11
    MOON VALLEY NURSERIES
    via Arcade Arena

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

  • 12
    captainmadrick • 2h ago . If the company has 25+ employees, by law they have to have a Right to Disconnect policy. I'd they don't have one, I'd suggest your friend reach out to HR and explain they because they weren't compliant, he didn't understand the expectations. Maybe they throw out the discipline.
    via u/captainmadrick
  • 13
    Ultimately though, he should be looking for a better job. So easy to do an ongoing, online job search, and go work somewhere that isn't stupid.
    via u/captainmadrick
  • 14
    Stolen Wishes • 2h ago Your friend needs to look for - a better job and say nothing until he's completed his first day on the new job, then email these a h_les, "This is a delayed communication that I don't work for you anymore."
    via u/StolenWishes
  • 15
    sparkydaman • 2h ago. He needs to submit an invoice for his time on vacation. If he's expected to answer emails and texts then he's working. By writing a report while he was 'off' then technically he was working.
    via u/sparkydaman
  • 16
    Faelinor ⚫ 2h ago . Happy to say that Australia has outlawed this practice. They can message, but its illegal for them to punish you in any way for ignoring them.
    via u/Faelinor
  • 17
    RicketyJimmy • 1h ago I was like your friend once, didn't answer an email that came in at 6pm on a Friday because well I didn't see it since I had already logged off Got written up. I went from working hard to not giving a f after that and left the company a year later
    via u/RicketyJimmy
  • 18
    Lexicon444 • 2h ago Honestly his workplace sounds toxic. I get that it's a quick question. But not answering a quick question is far from write up worthy.
    via u/Lexicon444
  • 19
    Your friend crossed their Ts and dotted their Is only for a stupid question to earn him a write up.
    via u/Lexicon444
  • 20
    shastadakota · 2h ago I was on vacation, sitting with my wife on a beach in Mexico. My job was the furthest thing from my mind. My work cellphone was back in the US, my personal phone was off. This is how it should be. However, there was a woman
    via u/shastadakota
  • 21
    sitting near us whose phone was constantly going off. You could tell it was her work, and it was stupid stuff like "it's in the lower right drawer of the cabinet in my office", etc. Over and over. I nearly grabbed her cellphone and chucked it in the ocean. No one person is that critical to a business. Disconnect.
    via u/shastadakota
  • 22
    mrrichiet 2h ago Is there an appeals process? If there is then they should raise one.
    via u/mrrichiet
  • 23
    minorcarnage • 2h ago He should look at who's on vacation every week and start sending "quick questions" until they start to take a hint. But seriously, look for a new job.
    via u/minorcarnage
  • 24
    teensyboop • 2h ago Gosh, pouring salt on the wound getting him a Leafs jersey Seriously though, a jersey is like $200; an odd part of this story.
    via u/teensyboop
  • 25
    Telepathysiphon • 2h ago There is no more loyalty from most businesses. Companies used to be built on being a close knit community/family like atmosphere. It's not anymore so Fuckkk them!!
    via u/Telepathysiphon
  • 26
    Things changed for me when I got suspended for a week from my job. I found $450 under a chair at my workplace (restaurant/bar). Protocol for turning in left credit cards is to bring it to the retail shop. We tend to have a rotating door at retail
    via u/Telepathysiphon
  • 27
    and honestly thought the dude in there was on the shady side to bring him the cash- so I contacted HR the next day- "I said I found some money, kept it in my pocket. the entire day waiting for someone to come in and say they lost some cash... no one
    via u/Telepathysiphon
  • 28
    came.. kept it in my locker overnight and turned it in to the Manager on duty in the morning. Thinking I did the right thing, I get called in to talk to the GM and my job was basically up in the air if I was going to get fired or not
    via u/Telepathysiphon
  • 29
    for not following protocol- GM said "this is a serious offense and the board will decide on what to do". I'm thinking are you serious.... 3 weeks later the shady guy in the retail place that I didn't want to bring the cash to, was caught on camera stealing money from the cancer jar.
    via u/Telepathysiphon
  • 30
    So now I do my job and stay under the radar. I'm here for the customers. Never ask me to work any doubles or stay late. It's not ever happening again.
    via u/Telepathysiphon

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