Employee furious over boss’s ‘annoying’ move just days before his two-week vacation: ‘I thought it was a joke’

A boss has been criticized for trying to cancel an employee’s two weeks’ leave booked months in advance.

Paul was looking forward to his holiday abroad and sent a reminder to his boss, but received a response he never expected.

British career expert Ben Askins received the text messages and read the conversation in a video.

‘Hey Tim, just a reminder that I’ll be off for the next two weeks starting Friday. I’ve just emailed you a copy of my delivery notes for Helen, but please let me know if there’s anything else you need me to do before the end of the week,” said Paul.

Tim replied: ‘Yes, I wanted to talk to you about that. I really don’t think we can allow you to take time off with everything that’s going on. I think we’ll postpone your vacation for a few weeks, if that’s okay.

Ben was shocked when he read the texts, especially with his boss’s casual attitude.

“I think the phrase ‘If that’s cool’ is probably the most annoying part of a pretty nasty message,” he said.

Immediately furious, Paul questioned whether or not his boss was joking – but he wasn’t.

Paul was looking forward to his holiday abroad and sent a reminder to his boss, but received a surprising response. British career expert Ben Askins (right) received the text messages and read the conversation in a video

Furious, Paul wasn’t sure if his boss was joking or not – but he wasn’t. “It’s not a joke, unfortunately,” Tim replied

“I’m afraid it’s not a joke,” Tim replied.

“We are already completely discouraged and I really can’t afford to be a discouraged man when we are so busy. Things should get a little calmer next month and you can take some time off then. You know I hate doing this, but sometimes I have no other option.

Ben said he could think of four options that didn’t involve canceling the license.

“The fact that this boss thinks he can do this is crazy,” he said.

Paul was shocked by the request, as he always booked flights and accommodation.

‘But I’ve already booked a trip and you’ve known about this holiday for months? What should I do about flights and other things? I can’t just postpone my vacation at the last minute,” he explained.

Paul replied: ‘I think we need a call on this, this is ridiculous’

The boss said he didn’t know Paul was traveling abroad, but he still needed him for work.

“I’m not cancelling, just postponing,” Tim clarified.

But Paul responded and said: ‘You’ve known about my time off for months, surely you could have got some extra support or something?’ What about my flights and other things? I can’t just reschedule.

Instead, the boss thought of a compromise and asked Paul to work remotely during the holidays, but told him not to tell his coworkers.

“This is not a commitment,” Ben said.

Paul replied: ‘I think we need a call on this, this is ridiculous.’

Ben said he spoke to Paul after the holiday, who revealed he had completed some work abroad but when he returned he ‘immediately started looking for a new job and left as soon as he got an offer’.

Since then, Ben’s video has been viewed more than 435,000 times.

“No” is a complete and perfectly acceptable answer to any toxic boss asking you to postpone or cancel a vacation,” one wrote.

“But if the boss had taken time off, he would never in a million years consider changing or canceling,” said another.

‘I need to manage your workload better if you end up with situations like this. Good way to lose employees,” added a third.

In Australia, employers do not have the legal right to cancel approved leave, but can do so with the employee’s consent.

An employer cannot coerce or otherwise force an employee to cancel their leave in the interests of the business, according to Armstrong Legal.