Boss refuses to let employee take PTO because they can't find coverage for them, employee hands in their notice instead: ‘What choice do I have?’

Paid Time Off is meant to be used, not collect dust in your payslip. Yet many bosses expect you never to use the PTO you are owed…

Oh, don't you love it when managers refuse to let you go on vacation because of silly excuses like, "We have no one else to do your job"? Yet, what you should love even more is getting to show them that their lack of preparation is actually none of your problem.

You see, if you are granted paid time off, the whole point of it being part of your contract is that you get to use it. You work hard all year long, the minimum your workplace can do is give you a couple of weeks off during that year to rest up and refresh. Everyone needs a vacation; it shouldn't be that hard for employers to realize just how important it is. Or even just how far their employees will go to get one.

via Getty Images

^{Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}
“My employer won’t let me take a vacation because they don’t have coverage for me. I’m considering giving my two weeks before my vacation because what choice do I have?"
“I put in a request on March 11 of this year to take a whole week off in the end of May. My manager didn’t approve or decline it. I’m the only employee working in my department since my other coworker retired weeks ago.”
The fact that this employee considers quitting their job because their boss refuses to approve their PTO is proof of how far employees will go for their hard-earned vacation. Why should they stay at a workplace that has no respect for what they owe their employees? If an employee has PTO and has requested to take it enough time in advance, being told ‘no’ is really not an option.
"My manager said to me she can’t do anything with my time off since they don’t have coverage and she said she spoke to upper management about it and they didn’t say that they were taking initiative to hire someone to work with me."
via charlesdeluvio

^{Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}
“I have worked with the company for two years and I am an outpatient clinic nurse. I was going to just put my two weeks in before my vacation because I fear if I just don’t quit and don’t show up on those days I would get in trouble for patient abandonment.”
So here is the option this employee is considering giving their boss: They are going on a vacation in May, no matter what. The question is, will they be returning to work after, or will they get to enjoy some unemployment?
Which option do you think the boss will choose? On paper, if she truly is understaffed, she can't afford to lose an employee because of unapproved PTO. Yet, we all know how stubborn upper management can get. If they don't want to give their employees something, they would often rather see them leave for good than give in.
“I’m a bit angry because I didn’t want it to end this way and I do enjoy what I do. I also dread the job hunting process. But what’s the point of staying with a company if I can’t take a vacation when I have PTO?!”
- d*adliftz420
via Onur Can Elma

Person with a red suitcase walking down the street.
^{Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.}
MovingTargetPractice:
there is another way. tell them you are informing them of your vacation not asking for approval. If they don't agree, they can fire you. same outcome, but you get to work/get paid until your vacation.
PigsIsEqual:
RN here - Patient abandonment doesn’t apply unless you walk away from an assigned shift that you’re already working. Not sure clinic patients would even count!
BigBirdsBrain:
They’re understaffed, not you. PTO isn’t a favor; it’s earned time, take it or start planning your exit.

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