Employee Takes 4 days PTO for Family Issue, Boss Revokes It After Coworker Puts in Two Week Notice

Author image for Ally Perry
Ally Perry • Writer and Editor
Jun 1, 2026 9:15 AM EDT

Should a manager be allowed to prioritize workplace needs over how you spend your personal time?

Employees have long joked about the guilt we can sometimes feel when we ask to take some time off from work. After all, it is our one brief and fleeting life we are talking about, so why should it be so stressful to ask for a couple of days to ourselves? Also, it isn't like people only take PTO for the sake of enjoying a fun vacation. Our free time has to be used for many different things.

More often than not, a boss who gets weird about totally reasonable requests for time off is the sign of a bad employer. Almost any good employee needs some extra days to themselves from time to time, for a whole variety of reasons. If a manager can't appreciate that, they either aren't that good at managing, or they are working for a company that doesn't know how to treat its workers with respect. 

In some workplaces, it can feel like trying to get vacation time is more trouble than it's worth. However, there are some events in life when putting work on the back burner is something an employer has no choice but to understand.

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  • A representation of a male employee holding his head in his hands while sitting behind his laptop
    via Vitaly Gariev

    A representation of a male employee holding his head in his hands while sitting behind his laptop

  • An employee was put into a difficult situation after they asked for four days of PTO. They needed this time to deal with a situation within their family, and their manager had previously approved this time in writing.

    However, things changed when one of their colleagues put in their two weeks' notice. The boss was suddenly worried about being short-staffed and demanded that the employee ignore the previous approval so that they could fill in for their coworker who would be leaving. They felt that this was unfair, and that they needed to take this time to see their family. They looked for some advice.

  • My boss just "revoked" my approved PTO for next week because someone else quit. Can they actually force me to show up?

    I put in a request for 4 days off over a month ago to handle a major personal/family situation. It was formally approved in writing by my manager.
    via agathodaimon98
  • Yesterday, a coworker put in their two weeks, and today my boss called me into the office. He told me that because we are now short-staffed, my PTO is cancelled and I'm expected to work my normal shifts next week. I already paid
    via agathodaimon98
  • non-refundable deposits for my travel. When I told him that, he said, "Part of being a team player is stepping up during a coverage crisis." Is this even legal? What happens if I just don't show up?
    via agathodaimon98
  • A representation of a male employee rubbing his temples while sitting behind his laptop
    via Vitaly Gariev

    A representation of a male employee rubbing his temples while sitting behind his laptop

  • byobeer You can take your time off. They can fire you for taking your time off. You choose.
    via byobeer
  • Ok Accident652 He cannot make you show up. He probably can fire you for not coming in but sounds like that won't happen because you're short staffed.
    via Ok_Accident652
  • Tell him you can't make it in and then it's up to him what the next move is. Just realize you may be let go, and it would be utter bulls but you really don't want to work at a place that won't support you having free time
    via Ok_Accident652
  • dnabsuh1 Co-Worker put in a 2 week notice? Then he should be glad you are out next week, and not after co- worker leaves.
    via dnabsuh1
  • Part of being a good employer is to cover extra expenses for your employees during any form of work related crisis. So if he agrees to cover the non-refundable expenses, and what ever other expenses you will have, then consider it. Otherwise tell him you can't cancel this.
    via dnabsuh1
  • These-Associate4216 His emergency is not your problem, it's his. The question is....if you take vacation and they fire you, do you still get unemployment while you look for your new job?
    via These-Associate4216
  • BigAway3098 I am going to guess if the situation was reversed the boss would still be out because it is important time off. I had a boss that I would change my vacation
    via BigAway3098
  • time because people would be out and needed coverage, we couldn't carry over vacation time and he told me I am losing it even though I did what was good for the company. They need to figure it out
    via BigAway3098
  • PNWvoter One worker down, it's unlikely he will fire another and be severely short staffed.
    via PNWvoter
  • Current_Gear_9482 That is a low act from the boss
    via Current_Gear_9482
  • ElkGrand7869 They can fire you, but it is better for them not to so probably not.
    via ElkGrand7869

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employee PTO workplace bad bosses
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