Boss demands employee cover for him during the weekend, employee requests 2 days off in return, then involves HR when boss refuses: 'I will fight for my time off'

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Nov 19, 2025 4:00 AM EST

When managers ask their employees for favors, they often forget that a favor implies that the employees have the choice to say 'no'. Otherwise, it's not a favor, it's simply a demand. Agreeing to work during a weekend is a choice an employee can make, as a favor to their manager. But it's not mandatory; in fact, in many cases, it is plainly illegal.

So when the employee in the story below covered for their manager for the entire weekend, he was doing the manager a favor. In return, he was supposed to get extra time off for the days he worked. However, the manager refused to grant that time off as full days, and instead told the employee to leave early for a few Fridays. This did not sit well with the employee, who felt like he was not rightfully compensated for the favor he did for his boss and all the hard work he put in.

Luckily, it wasn't long before HR heard of this "deal', and stepped in to make sure the employee got what he deserved. Keep scrolling to read what happened next.

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  • Exhausted office worker suffering from eye strain during overtime work
    via Prathan Chorruangsak

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

  • My manager told me to "take my time back on a Friday afternoon" so I did. Now he's blowing up my phone.

    Firstly for context - I'm in corporate working 40 hours per week in the tech space.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • A few weeks ago, I was covering for my manager & a colleague & low & behold an "urgent escalation" arrives on Friday at 2pm.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • I worked that evening until 8pm. I worked the entire Saturday & Sunday dealing with it.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • Some colleagues get that time back as "monetary" where I was told by HR to arrange with my manager on when I can have that time back.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • I asked for 2 extra leave days in December as it's quiet - 2 PTO for 2.5 extra days worked over a weekend I thought was fair.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • My manager told me "No I don't agree. Just end early every Friday until you go on leave.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • Put it in your calendar." So that's EXACTLY what I did. The annoying part is, there is an unwritten rule that meetings & work really ends at 2pm on Fridays unless it's a P1.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • But.. he needed me today as our CTO wanted to go over the proposal for our top strategic client.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • The proposal that I created and is sitting on my laptop. We had a meeting at 1 to go over it together.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • He cancelled last minute. But at 4pm he realized & he tried to call 4x & sent a message.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • I ignored every single one whilst playing with my son.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • Men in Suits and Woman Sitting at Office
    via Karola G

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

  • Update The fallout - I saw a meeting invite pop into my calendar on Sunday night for Monday am with him & a senior HR manager.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • I accepted & prepared everything. I haven't dealt with her before but she was extremely neutral.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • She asked for both sides. Her first question was why are we talking about 2 PTO days & not 2.5.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • So that was rectified. Second one to my manager - "if you don't want him to take leave then accept the cash in option." He looked at her like she was the stupidest person alive.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • Outcome 1 of 2.5 - days will be taken in December to extend my leave. I was given the option to take both but thought I'd rather continue with my early Fridays as it gives me more satisfaction.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • 0.25 days have been - taken last Friday. The other 1.25 days can be taken as I choose - however I have to send a written email at least 24 hours before the time & have to use it before 31 December.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • I immediately sent an email after the meeting thanking them both for their time, adding a summary & stating that I'll be utilizing the next 1.25 days over the next 4 Fridays & 1 Monday before I go on leave.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • Matteblackandgrey This sounds exhausting regardless of the outcome, I couldn't be bothered with this degree of vigilance in my life. Just a matter of time until the next drama.
    via Matteblackandgrey
  • OP Careless-Cat3327 The irony is HR's leave tracking system doesn't actually work correctly. So I have my own excel setup and will fight for my time off. I know a few people who "let it go" and they are essentially giving up their own PTO.
    via Careless-Cat3327
  • Xsiah Props to that HR lady
    via Xsiah
  • gijimayu You know they totally tried to fuck you by having this meeting on monday morning.
    via gijimayu
  • elunomagnifico I love it, but I hope you're more important and/or more connected than your manager, otherwise work is going to start to suck for you.
    via elunomagnifico
  • Tiyath Damn, that sounds like some solid human resourcing. Y'all hiring? :D
    via Careless-Cat3327

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Tags

boss workplace-stories employee fired hr manager job malicious compliance tales-from-the-workplace time off overworked-employees workplace overtime company
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