Boss treats every PTO request like an emergency, constantly threatens to cancel employee's vacation: 'It makes planning trips difficult'

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Aug 29, 2026 9:00 PM EDT

Is it really PTO if you can't use it when you'd like to?

When you're a salaried employee, part of your compensation package is paid time off. This allows you to take the rest and vacation you need without losing out on money. Plus, it lets the company have some control over when you're gone, and incentivizes you to let them know as far in advance as you can. It unfortunately doesn't always work that way, though, and sometimes bosses exert a little too much control over their employees. Running a successful business means running a business that can stay afloat without some of its core members, for a while. Or even for more than a while, if one of them decides to quit. If everything hinges on the presence of all employees at one time, then that's not sustainable. That's what was happening in this story, though, which the employee shared on the r/work subreddit. 

Every job requires some amount of sacrifice. No job is perfect, and there's always something that you wish you could improve about it. All that matters is that you can put up with the amount of sacrifice it asks of you. Maybe you're okay with one thing because it's great in another area. But if the key factors of a tolerable job are not there, then we should ask what exactly is going on. That's what was happening here. 

Advertisement
  • A stressed out female employee looks at her phone in her hands.
    via Kev Costello

    Model portrayal.

    A stressed out female employee looks at her phone in her hands.

  • Good pay, good work-life balance, but my company treats vacations like a crisis. How would you navigate this?

    The pay is very good (above market), the work isn't particularly stressful, and the WLB is decent. I rarely get contacted outside business hours, and if I do, my boss usually asks about my availability beforehand. The weird part is vacation.
    via Material_Practice762
  • Whenever I book time off, even a couple of days, there's some negativity around it. My boss often reminds me that it could get cancelled if something unexpected comes up and I might be asked to come back.
    via Material_Practice762
  • I usually request 1-2 week vacations 1-2 months ahead, and shorter ones about 2 weeks ahead. I later learned this is apparently company-wide: two- week vacations are treated like a major event and can require approvals several levels above you.
    via Material_Practice762
  • It's stressful because it makes planning trips difficult. If I can plan my absence months in advance, why can't a large organization plan around one person being away for two weeks? Weird dynamic... how to navigate?
    via Material_Practice762

  • You don't have to put up with something just because you feel like you have to. You're allowed to ask for more, and to file complaints about what is going on in your work life. Your bosses probably ask a lot of you, and that means you can ask something of them in return. You should be allowed to take all the vacation you see fit, as long as you give enough notice. Nobody wants to feel like they're constantly working, or under threat of working. The boss in this story needed to learn that, and quickly. So keep scrolling to read this full story and see what commenters had to say.

  • Commenters gave their takes and stories from their own experience.

    SupBishi I get 6 weeks vacation. I usually do a 2 weeker and the rest are 1 week. If the business can't survive for 2 weeks without you then that's a problem. Take your time, enjoy, and pick up the pieces once you are back.
    via Material_Practice762
  • Responsible_Tie_2551 Have they ever actually cancelled a vacation? Treat the moaning and groaning from your boss(es) like white noise, like Charlie Brown's teacher. Assume they are just venting. Don't argue, just request your dates and make your arrangements.
    via Material_Practice762
  • A woman looks down at her phone sitting on the ground with a suitcase next to her
    via Natalia Blauth For Unsplash+

    A woman looks down at her phone sitting on the ground with a suitcase next to her

  • In the unlikely event your boss actually tries to cancel your vacation, say that you have non-refundable arrangements and that the company will have to reimburse your for your losses. I bet they won't cancel anything. It's obnoxious behavior on the part of your bosses. I like to go on vacation so I don't complain when subordinates also go.
    via Material_Practice762
  • K1net3k good wlb and no vacation sounds like oxymoron.
    via Material_Practice762
  • HotelDisastrous288 What are they going to do if you get hit by a bus and are hospitalized? Fr king out over vacation time you have earned is foolish.
    via Material_Practice762
  • PixelFairy89 If you're on your vacation time, under no circumstances answer phones calls, emails, or messages from them. If they demand to know why when you get back, say you were at a remote cabin or something with no cell service or out of the country if you were.
    via Material_Practice762
  • unlimited_snapper 2 week vacation seems long for US. Typically 1 week vacation is norm. How many total pto days do you get?
    via Material_Practice762
  • rosegarden207 Since everything else is good I'd learn to deal with it. Anytime you plan something that is going to be non refundable such as a cruise or Disney vacation for example, I'd let my boss know that once its approved you will be booking a non refundable trip and cant cancel it. For all the good things about you job its just something you'll have deal with.
    via Material_Practice762
  • evenduckk No offense but one thing I have noticed is that some people are anxious and over perceive every comment or action. I get my days off and never have had an issue but I have co workers who think the company hates
    via Material_Practice762
  • giving time off and the work we do is utmost important. My tip for you is to put the vacation request in and just say "I am taking these days off", dont get into a conversation just make a statement and walk away.
    via Material_Practice762
  • Secret-Sale-9703 I'm in Europe, people on my team have to take their 35 vacation days per year, Summer is ending and I have to push some people to plan their remming vacation days
    via Material_Practice762
  • EugeneRabkin Honestly I'd just book refundable stuff and ignore the guilt trip. PTO isn't some personal favor from your boss.
    via Material_Practice762
  • MelancholicEmbrace_x I take it you're a salaried employee since they contact you outside of business hours? If not, then you need to put a stop to that unless they're paying you for your time.
    via Material_Practice762
  • You're giving more than adequate notice. You've earned those vacation days, so don't feel guilty. Don't ask, simply inform- in writing. I'd message my direct boss and their boss. I'd also send a friendly reminder on my Friday prior to the start of my vacation.
    via Material_Practice762
  • Not sure how your company operates, but at mine as long as you put in your vacation request 24 hours in advance it's automatically approved. I work in a critical role, so as a courtesy | always inform them as far in advance as I'm able to.
    via Material_Practice762

Want More? Follow Us and Add Us as a Preferred Source on Google.

Tags

boss antiwork workplace-stories toxic-workplace job work coworkers working toxic-boss bad bosses toxic-work-environment
Scroll Down For The Next Article