Manager claims employee “should be grateful” for having a job after denying employee's PTO request for one day off to attend sister's wedding: ‘What does that even mean?’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Feb 26, 2026 10:00 AM EST

Should you really be grateful for a job that doesn't allow you to take ONE day off?

There are many things we should be grateful for in life. We are grateful for our friends, our family, being healthy, and having a roof over our heads.

Obviously, we are also immensely grateful for having a job, which is not a given for anyone these days. That being said, just because we are grateful doesn't mean we shouldn't fight for our rights or stand up for ourselves when we feel like we're being wronged.

You can be grateful and still feel like you deserve better.

When the manager in the story below told their employee they should be grateful they even have a job, after this employee asked for one day off to attend their sister's wedding, we knew it was time for this employee to stand up for themselves. Not only is it just one day, which the employee is asking for weeks in advance, after following HR protocol precisely, but it is one day after weeks of being overworked with no retribution.

This led the employee not only to not feel grateful, but also feel like they deserve so much better, especially from a workplace they have given so much to.

Whether or not this employee will get their day off approved remains to be seen, but it doesn't seem like that matters as much, since the employee is not planning on sticking around in a job that doesn't appreciate hard work. And when this employee turns in their letter of resignation, we hope they tell their manager they should have been grateful for having such a great employee, and they should have shown it.

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  • We hope this employee translates PTO to Prepare The Others and does not cave to their manager’s attitude. They deserve a break, and they should wait for an “approval” to take it, especially not for just one day.

    What advice would you give to this employee? Should they take the day off regardless of their manager’s decision, or should they “be grateful” and keep quiet?

  • Employee enters boss's office for a meeting.
    via Ziga Plahutar

    Employee enters boss's office for a meeting.

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

  • My manager told me I should be "grateful" I even have a job after I asked for a day off for my sisters wedding

    Not even exaggerating. Put in a PTO request 6 weeks in advance, followed every single step HR told me to.
    via muddydumps
  • Got called into the office today and my manager sits me down and goes "you know a lot of people would k I for your position right now" Like what does that even mean?
    via muddydumps
  • I asked for ONE day. A friday. The wedding is out of state so I need to drive up.
    via muddydumps
  • I've been covering for two people who quit back in September and never got replaced. Been doing basically 3 peoples jobs for 5 months and not a single word about extra pay or anything.
    via muddydumps
  • I had some money from Stake saved up so I wasn't totally desperate but I took this job because I actually thought there was room to grow here.
    via muddydumps
  • I'm so tired of companies acting like showing up every day is something they're doing YOU a favor for.
    via muddydumps
  • You are paying me, I am providing a service. That's it. That's the whole relationship. Anyway the request is still "under review" which in this company means they forgot about it and hope you do too.
    via muddydumps
  • Already started looking.
    via muddydumps
  • Calendar with marked day off
    via baona

    Calendar with marked day off.

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

  • thegloracle "Under review? OK, but I'm just telling you now that I won't be here that day. Do with that as you wish, it's still 6 weeks away."
    via thegloracle
  • Taowulf When your employer starts complaining about things you have a right to or what their own policies permit, start documenting EVERYTHING.
    via Taowulf
  • Interesting_Bread520 Start documenting things and begin the search for a new job for sure. You're being taken advantage of and it sounds like the managers trying to see how much more he can squeeze out of you. You're a person, not a lemon. The goal of a job shouldn't be to wring you dry of every bit of substance then throw you in the bin (although sadly a lot of jobs seem to think so).
    via Interesting_Bread520
  • TheCrimsonSteel To quote Dwight from the Office >Look, I'm all about loyalty. In fact, I feel like part of what I'm being paid for here is my loyalty. But if there were somewhere else that valued loyalty more highly... I'm going wherever they value loyalty the most.
    via TheCrimsonSteel
  • Whyvez5 I'm sorry but as a fortunate Canadian, what the hol is up with this work culture? Unfortunately we are slowly sliding into an authoritarian style of leadership as well. It's sad!
    via Whyvez5
  • Pottski PTO isn't a request. Tell them the date and that you'll be unavailable. If they try this powerplay sh escalate it above their head. Don't take it lying down.
    via Pottski
  • DudeWoody "I've been doing three people's jobs for months now. I'm asking for one day off. If you fire me, that means there will be zero people doing those three people's jobs. Do you really want to start a whole hiring process, costing the company time and money, rather than let me have one day off? Is that really where your values lie?"
    via DudeWoody
  • keetojm you know a lot of people would k I for your position right now" If that was the case, I would have three other people working beside me in this role.
    via keetojm
  • DodgyRogue Doing the work of three people without a raise? Sounds like it's time to start acting your wage
    via DodgyRogue

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boss workplace-stories employee manager job time off PTO overworked-employees workplace company paid time off vacation
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