Company denies leave request sent in 6 months prior, claims they've run out of PTO after draining it for closure days

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
May 19, 2026 9:00 PM EDT

Should your company get to drain your PTO without warning?

Your time off is precious, and it should be used exactly how you want it to be used. You don't want to have to run every last thing by the people you work with. After all, your life is your own, and you should be able to use it as you please. But that's not how things always go, far from it. Sometimes bosses get a little too zealous and start thinking that they control all of your free time. Sure, you have to clock the hours that you have to clock, but you should be able to take a vacation when you need to. That's what came up in this story, where an employee wanted to take time off, but his bosses didn't want him to. The way he saw it, he was letting them know in advance that he would be gone, whether he was compensated for that time or not. The way the company saw it, he had maxed out his time off and wanted to prevent him from being gone. Either way, it's a tough bridge to cross. You don't want to lose your job, but you also don't want to let someone else dictate what you can and can't do. So this worker was at a crossroads, and they weren't quite sure how to proceed. In this job market, you have to tread lightly. But you also don't want to be taken advantage of. 

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    A man uses a tablet in a work cubicle
    via Quilia

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

  • 02

    No PTO left, and my leave got denied, BUT I'm going on vacation anyways.

    I sent my leave request 6 months ago, and per our leave form “if you do not hear back from HR within one week of submitting your PTO request assume that it is approved". So I assumed it was approved like all my previous leave was in the last 3 yrs. (nobody from hr ever confirms),
    via FlossinQueen
  • 03
    and planned a big trip for my birthday. Suddenly sh hits the fan at work, new leadership takes over, and now I'm hated because I'm vocal and question things (normally a good thing when not in a militant work environment). There's retaliatory behavior and Suddenly my leave is denied. All of it. I ask HR and they say "you're well over your pto limit and unpaid leave doesn't really exist".
    via FlossinQueen
  • 04
    This was news to me. Unpaid leave does exist (I've used LWOP several times over the years), and much of my pto was used because they pull from pto when there's a closure... whether I want them to or not. So like three days was used on closures and then I got sick. So yeah, I am over my PTO. So who cares, my leave
    via FlossinQueen
  • 05
    would be unpaid anyways. It was never an issue in the past and now suddenly it's an issue. Meanwhile, my coworkers are three weeks past their PTO limit and none of their leave got flagged and they're still taking their leave.
    via FlossinQueen
  • 06
    Anyways, I'm taking my trip. I'm going all out and hopefully my doctor's note suffices. I don't want to lose my job, but I'm aware they're trying to get rid of me (although it will probably take some time), and I could come back to a lot of judgement since they know I requested this leave
    via FlossinQueen
  • 07
    and put up a fight for it to be approved. But I've needed this vacation. I need a break. My mental health has really taken a hit this year, and this trip is going to be a release. I say take the trip, but be ready for the consequences.
    via FlossinQueen
  • 08
    Side note, if anyone has tips for the best way to approach calling out, I'd appreciate it! Idk if I should call in each day or just once. Either way, I should have a drs note to back me up. But I don't want to reveal anything.
    via FlossinQueen
  • 09
    A man looks stressed in front of a macbook in a cafe
    via Shane Rounce

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

  • This is a fine line to walk. When your company is continually disrespecting you, you have no choice but to give it back a little bit. You don't want to bite the hand that feeds you, but you also want to make sure that you're fighting for what you deserve. That's what came up here, where an employee was trying their best to get what they wanted out of work, when their boss was less than flexible. Keep scrolling to read what happened here and let us know what you think about it in the comments.

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    Commenters gave their thoughts and opinions.

    Spaghetti Western2162 PTO stands for prepare the others because I will not be here.
    via SpaghettiWestern2162
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    Rizzy_B_317 They will see you calling out on the days of your previously denied vacation time and will fire you because of it. Be prepared for that. I personally cannot stand companies that
    via Rizzy_B_317
  • 12
    charge your PTO without approval. It's an employee benefit, not a bank of hours for your manager to pull from when they feel like it. If my boss doesn't agree with that, then I'm gonna hit the bricks.
    via Rizzy_B_317
  • 13
    Rambler330 Download the employee handbook if possible before they update it.
    via Rambler330
  • 14
    redprawns Sounds like they have a written policy that no answer is approval. Your vacation was already approved. Just be firm and polite, and conduct communication by email.
    via redprawns
  • 15
    MajorNoodles That closure thing sounds shady as h I. Never even heard of a company doing that. How is that legal??
    via MajorNoodles
  • 16
    fullfrontalnativity If you run out off PTO and plan to take time off, don't plan on having a job when you return.
    via fullfrontalnativity
  • 17
    FriendlyEngineer Not what you want to hear, but in my state, calling out for unapproved time off and no PTO is considered job abandonment and allows your employer to terminate your employment AND deny your unemployment claims.
    via FriendlyEngineer
  • 18
    It's a rigged game, but you are actively jeopardizing your safety net with this decision.
    via FriendlyEngineer
  • 19
    NoLungz561 Your situation at work sounds very similar to mine and when you mentioned the military thing it made sense why I am being targeted. Does your work offer bereavement? You
    via NoLungz561
  • 20
    could say a fam member d d. Some places after 3 days of no call no show, automatically count that as quiting. I'd say call in sick once and say you will brong drs note or go the bereavement route if its an option although a dirty play. Sometimes you gotta fight fire with fire
    via NoLungz561
  • 21
    Triceratops Jam Someone should sue over unpaid leave so that companies get rid of it. It is really just a way for companies to get around the laws that require them to pay out unused time with a name that makes it sound like an employee benefit.
    via TriceratopsJam
  • 22
    Madness_Quotient I don't think you should attempt to fraudulently give them a doctor's note. if you are going on vacation go on vacation.
    via Madness_Quotient
  • 23
    you are essentially quitting. though if you are over your pto and they have told you that the leave is denied. Their whole "assume it's approved" thing is a trick to stop you chasing for approval. I'd bet you have never taken an approved PTO in all the time you have been there - so you have a history of this.
    via Madness_Quotient
  • 24
    maybe you can get away with it out of sheer cheek. but obviously faking a Dr's. note during denied pto is a step too far. even the most reasonable manager is going to see that as being termination worthy behaviour.
    via Madness_Quotient
  • 25
    thedisliked23 The angle here is the uneven application of policies. If you truly do have coworkers that are over their limit and are having leave approved then you've got a case. I'd look at my options and start
    via thedisliked23
  • 26
    applying elsewhere while finding a labor lawyer if this is the case because they clearly don't want you and nothing is gonna fix that. If you're still going to be gone I would get my ducks in a row and verify that they're
    via thedisliked23
  • 27
    not following their policy and then just remind them two weeks ahead of time that "as per company policy" you didn't hear back from HR and are taking LWOP for your vacation. Still might be iffy if there's not stated timeline on the "hear back from HR" part.
    via thedisliked23
  • 28
    As far as the "I take time off when I want" crowd, the policy is the policy. The only thing an employer has to do is follow their own policy and apply it evenly among employees barring any state regulations but if they have. policies written down that violate state regulations they're idiots and deserve the lawsuit.
    via thedisliked23

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antiwork work time off PTO workplace illegal company
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