Employee resigns when manager denies vacation time, he makes them work 12 days straight: 'The vacation will start when I'm no longer here'

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Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Oct 21, 2025 9:00 PM EDT
A man looks at a computer screen and rubs his temples as another man stands beside him, gesticulating

A terrible employer only gets worse when an employee finally hands in their notice.

It is one of many reasons that it is important to take on board all the hints at what type of company culture a workplace has when you are going through the interview process. However, there is no denying that sometimes employers are good at hiding all the bad parts of working at their business, or potential employees are so desperate for work that they have no choice but to ignore the red flags. It only gets worse from there.

There are feelings as freeing as finally shutting the door on a job that disturbed your peace, but unless it is their decision, they rarely make it easy to leave. In fact, some managers take offence at an employee leaving their role, and do everything in their power to make them regret it—or at the very least, give them one last hard time.

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  • a headless image of a man wearing a suit and carrying a box of belongings on a white background
    via Curated Lifestyle (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • When a job is taking its toll on a person mentally and/or physically, the last thing they usually want to do as they say goodbye to it is toil away harder than they ever have before. Nonetheless, it is a trick that some bosses enjoy playing on workers who choose to leave. 

    In this story, an employee felt like they were being punished when they quit after their vacation time was denied. They felt that they had prioritized this job for too long, and it was time to look for something different.

    In response, management decided that they should work 12 days in a row up to their last day, reasoning that they would have a ‘vacation’ once they left the role. They tried to request some time off in between, but their manager refused it. They looked for advice on whether it was worth sticking it out.

  • I resigned, and now my manager wants me to work 12 days in a row. Should I just walk out?

    The situation is exactly as the title says. I gave my two weeks' notice because they denied my vacation request. After 6 years of always putting this job before anything else, I've had enough and decided to leave and take the trip I deserve. (Thankfully, I have enough money saved to be fine until I find a new job).
    via calyx-idler3e
  • So, after I told them I was leaving, they said I could take the next day off but would then have to work until the end of the week. I thought, okay, a little extra money before I go. But when I asked my manager about my next day off, he told me I'd be working continuously until my last day. That's 12 days in a row without any rest. His excuse? That my
    via calyx-idler3e
  • A man looks at a computer screen and rubs his temples as another man stands beside him, gesticulating
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 'vacation' will start when I'm no longer an employee here. To make matters worse, last week was incredibly stressful, we were swamped and short-staffed, and I'm already completely burned out. And now he wants me to work another 6 days in a row? I feel like he's gone completely insane.
    via calyx-idler3e
  • I even tried to reason with him to get just Saturday off to see my family, but he flat-out refused. He wasn't willing to compromise on a single day. The thing that's driving me crazy is that I've seen the schedule, and they have more than enough experienced staff to cover the work without me. It has reached the point
    via calyx-idler3e
  • where I just want to blow it off and not come in anymore. I'm truly sick of prioritizing work over my health and family. My manager was a very good guy before this incident, but I honestly feel like he's trying to punish me for deciding to leave.
    via calyx-idler3e
  • So what should I do now? Endure these last few days to get a good reference? Or listen to my gut and just walk out? I mean, seriously, what's the worst they can do... fire me?
    via calyx-idler3e
  • light streaming in to a modern, empty meeting room from a large window on the far wall
    via Getty Images (Unsplash+)
  • littlemetal If a person acts like this, what makes you think they wouldn't lie if you used them as a personal reference? Just walk out (if you can afford it) or keep your usual schedule. As they always say here... what are they gonna do, fire you?
    via littlemetal
  • lamNotTheMama They've proven that they're shit. Just walk.
    via IamNotTheMama
  • salsanacho 2 week notice is a courtesy, not a requirement. It can be a 2 week notice, or a 0 day notice.
    via salsanacho
  • No_End_7351 Two weeks notice is a courtesy, not a requirement. When someone gets fired they don't work 2 more weeks and then leave. Walk. Your (former) boss is being a petty asshole. You don't owe them a damn thing.
    via No_End_7351
  • MagneticShark "Either I work my normal schedule for the next 2 weeks, or today is my last day. Which would you prefer?"
    via MagneticShark
  • ThinkAd6864 Just don't go, wouldn't you be entitled to unemployment if they fired you in the interim? Two weeks notice is a scam.
    via ThinkAd6864
  • zxvasd I'd show up and not do a thing.
    via zxvasd
  • Wendel7171 Trust your gut and on the last day you want to work hand in any keys or cards you have and don't go back.
    via Wendel7171

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boss employee manager work quitting work reddit thread Reddit quitting resignation vacation
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