Employee rages over boss’ ‘infuriating’ move just days before his two-week holiday: ‘I thought it was a joke’

A boss has been criticized for trying to cancel an employee’s two-week leave, which was 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 saw coming.

British career expert Ben Askins was sent the text messages and read out the conversation in one video.

‘Hey Tim, just a reminder that I will be off for the next two weeks starting Friday. I’ve just sent you an email with my handover notes for Helen, but please let me know if I need to do anything before the end of the week,” Paul said.

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

Ben was shocked after reading the texts, especially by the boss’s nonchalant attitude.

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

Instantly furious, Paul wondered if his boss was joking or not, 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) was sent the text messages and read the conversation in a video

Paul was furious and wasn’t sure if his boss was joking or not, but he wasn’t. “No joke, I’m afraid,” Tim replied

“No joke, I’m afraid,” Tim replied.

“We’re just here and there, and I really can’t afford to be sad when we’re so busy. Next month it should be a bit quieter and you can take some time off. You know I don’t like doing this, but sometimes I have no other choice.’

Ben said he could think of four options that wouldn’t involve revoking the leave.

“The fact that this boss thinks they can do this is just insane,” he said.

Paul was shocked by the request as he had 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 with the flights and stuff? I can’t just move my vacation at the last minute,” he explained.

Paul replied: ‘I think we need to call about this, this is ridiculous’

The boss said he didn’t know Paul was traveling abroad but still needs him to work.

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

But Paul shot back, saying, “You’ve known about my break for months, surely you could have gotten some extra support or something? What about my flights and stuff? I can’t just rebook.’

Instead, the boss came up with a compromise and asked Paul to work remotely during his vacation, but told him not to tell his coworkers.

“That’s not a compromise,” Ben said.

Paul replied: ‘I think we need to call about this, this is ridiculous.’

Ben said he caught up with Paul after his holiday, who said he had done some work abroad but when he returned ‘he immediately started looking for a new job and left as soon as he got an offer’.

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

‘No’ is a complete and totally acceptable answer to any toxic boss who asks you to postpone or cancel your vacation,” one person wrote.

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

‘You have to manage your workload better when you find yourself in these kinds of situations. Good way to lose staff,” a third added.

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

According to Armstrong Legal, an employer cannot coerce or otherwise coerce an employee into withdrawing leave in the best interests of the company.