Employee with plenty of accrued PTO asks for one unpaid day off, but her boss denies it and invents fake rules to justify it: ‘I went by HR again, and they confirmed she’s wrong and the info she’s been telling me is not true’

Author image for Etai Eshet
Etai Eshet • Editor
Dec 25, 2025 3:00 PM EST

Every workplace has at least one manager who treats power like a loyalty program. At this one, it is the supervisor who refuses to approve a simple unpaid day off. The worker follows all the steps, clears it with HR, and even checks the fine print, confirming it is allowed. But the boss insists on a made-up rule, paid time off only. No unpaid days, no exceptions, no logic. She even claims HR backs her up, which would be impressive if HR had not immediately confirmed she made the whole thing up.  

Now I don't want to come off as condescending, but the woman who shared this story has somewhat childlike wonder, but not in the cute, pure sense. Because when a grown person, who has lived for a couple of decades on this planet, should know what to expect from certain situations. Don't get me wrong, I admire the innocence and would love to have even a tiny bit of the optimism and belief in decency her story is giving off, but like, what do you mean: "Is there any reason for her to do this even after HR has spoken to her? This whole situation just makes me feel weird because now I feel like she's purposely giving me a hard time" ?! 

Of course she's purposely giving you a hard time! She's your supervisor and that's kinda how the world works.

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  • Boss won’t approve time off request.

    A serious-looking woman sits across a desk during a formal meeting, holding a pen while listening skeptically to another person speaking, suggesting a tense workplace discussion or disciplinary conversation.
    via fizkes

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

  • Anyway, sorry I got a little carried away there, but something about control makes certain people, like this supervisor, allergic to yes. The employee is not asking for the moon, just one unpaid day to save their limited PTO for an actual vacation. But to this supervisor, flexibility looks like defiance. The problem is not policy, it is ego disguised as management. She is rewriting company rules in real time, turning a routine request into bureaucratic theater.  

  • My supervisor keeps denying my unpaid time off request. I currently accrue PTO & according to HR, it's totally fine to take a day off using unpaid PTO as long as I give a heads up.
    via Ladytlc91
  • HR has spoken to her about this already. Well, I need to take a day off soon & told my boss this over a month ago.
    via Ladytlc91

  • HR keeps promising to handle it, which means the worker gets to relive this cycle every time they need a day off. It is less a job now and more an endurance test in patience. In offices like this, the only thing harder than getting time off is trying to understand why approval feels like a personal insult.  

  • I don't want to use my PTO so I'll be taking an unpaid day. My supervisor for some reason will not allow me to do this.
    via Ladytlc91
  • She says I have to use PTO for any time off including sick days (we don't get sick time only accrued PTO) I talked to HR again & they said they would address the issue.
    via Ladytlc91
  • A businesswoman seen from behind raises one hand while crossing fingers behind her back, symbolizing dishonesty, hidden intentions, or broken trust in a professional setting.
    via Prostock-studio

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

  • I spoke with my supervisor again-today & was told "HR says this is the rule..etc" however, I went by HR again after the conversation and they confirmed my sup.
    via Ladytlc91
  • is in fact wrong & the info she's been telling me is not true. They also said they haven't spoken to her today about the issue yet, but she told me they did.
    via Ladytlc91
  • Is there any reason for her to do this even after HR has spoken to her?
    via Ladytlc91
  • This whole situation just makes me feel weird because now I feel like she's purposely giving me a hard time.
    via Ladytlc91
  • Any advice on what I should do? I'm also trying to save my PTO for a vacation I have next year.
    via Ladytlc91
  • WiseDeparture9530 Why isn't HR requesting a joint meeting with you both? Someone isn't telling rhe truth.
    via Ladytlc91
  • OP Ladytlc91 That's what I'm going to ask for. That way hopefully we can all be on the same page
    via Ladytlc91
  • Fluid-Pickle8203 As a manager I can not approve unpaid time off if someone has PTO they must use it.
    via Ladytlc91
  • OP Ladytlc91 I understand. It's just HR was telling me differently. That's the only reason it was kind of bothering me.
    via Ladytlc91
  • whatchugonnasay Um, why would you do this? Are you trying to "bank" PTO? Use it up and bank the cash. Consider using that cash to create your emergency fund. You can use this later to when you need to take unpaid leave, etc. Dragging one's boss into meetings with HR, even when they are wrong, is usually not the best plan.
    via Ladytlc91
  • OP Ladytlc91 I have a vacation planned next spring & am saving it for then. Everyone (managers, supervisors, regular employees) in the company does this. So if everyone does it, I assumed it shouldn't be a problem if I do.
    via Ladytlc91
  • swisssf No....it's your post that's kinda lazy. (And look up "shallow" - may not be quite what you think it means.) It matters fundamentally who you are, what industry you're in, how long you've been there. Sounds like you're pretty junior but consider yourself entitled to take off as many days as you feel like. That's not how it works. That's the straightforward part. However, your tenure, industry, position, level may introduce mitigating factors. Good luck tho.
    via Ladytlc91
  • OP Ladytlc91 No it doesn't matter. You're acting as if I'm asking for several days off. Why does it matter fundamentally who am for just asking for one day off? Now you're telling me to go look up words in a dictionary just because I want ONE day off. Get the stick out of your ass & stop being an asshole. Go look that up.
    via Ladytlc91
  • swisssf Your post has the tone of a fake/bot narrative, but in any case: What country are you in? what industry? what job role are you in and at what level? how many people do your same job? how many in your group of dept? are they treated any differently? how long have you been in the company? how many hours of PTO do you get annually? how much have you used? How much do you plan to use for your vaca next year? Your question is lacking critical basic background/details/context to be able to for
    via Ladytlc91
  • OP Ladytlc91 I was just trying to give as much info without typing several paragraphs. There are no critical details to explain because it's a very straightforward situation. There are no details left out and suggesting I'm lazy & entitled because I simply need to take a day off is quite shallow.
    via Ladytlc91
  • TenaCVols Unpaid time off can be denied especially when you have PTO available to use. How much unpaid time have you taken off?
    via Ladytlc91
  • LacyLove No where I have worked allowed me to take unpaid time off when I had PTO available. What does the company handbook say?
    via Ladytlc91
  • Particular-Try5584 Send an email to HR, cc your supervisor in "Hey HR, just confirming our hallway conversation, can you please confirm with my supervisor the grounds which I can use leave without pay thanks. Fred is telling me one thing verbally, and Sally another. Ideally I'd like to take Tuesday the 5th off as unpaid leave as I have an appointment. Thanks.Me"
    via Ladytlc91
  • PsychoMarion I'd use the PTO. I consider unpaid time off to be purely for emergencies such as sickness or child sickness if that has to be part of PTO.
    via Ladytlc91
  • CaptBlackfoot Any company I've ever worked for won't allow paid leave until PTO hits 0, so it's odd that HR is telling you it's okay, but I guess it's possible. Forget all the he said, she said, ask HR for a copy of your company leave policy. You'll know for sure who's correct once you get the policy in writing.
    via Ladytlc91

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Tags

workplace discussion employment issues boss workplace-stories hr PTO supervisor Horrible Bosses work-life balance
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