Employee Denied Time Off After Covering A Crisis All Weekend: “The Stupidest Person Alive”

For every workplace that genuinely respects work-life balance, there’s always another that treats it like a fantasy.

This Redditor ended up with a manager who belonged in the latter category. After working an entire weekend to fix an urgent issue, he asked for two extra days off as compensation. Instead, his boss told him to just leave early every Friday. So he did—exactly as instructed—and that’s when the trouble started.

What happened next was an awkward HR meeting that didn’t play out the way the manager expected. Read the full story below.

The manager told the employee to leave early on Fridays to make up for the weekend he worked

Manager expressing frustration to employee taking time off during a tense office conversation with coffee cups on the table.

Image credits: katemangostar (not the actual image)

But when he actually did, the boss wasn’t happy at all

Manager lets employee take time off but reacts unexpectedly when the employee actually takes the time off as told.

Text screenshot showing a manager letting an employee take time off and the employee explaining their PTO arrangement with HR.

Text from a manager letting employee end early every Friday until leave, then employee follows through exactly.

Employee walking away from office building holding briefcase, illustrating manager letting employee take time off.

Image credits: rawpixel.com (not the actual image)

Text excerpt about manager letting employee take time off but getting upset when employee actually does, discussing work ending early on Fridays.

Text on a white background about a manager letting employee take time off and the employee ignoring calls while playing with son.

Text message update describing fallout after a manager lets employee take time off and then freaks out when he actually does.

Text excerpt discussing a manager letting employee take time off and surprising reaction when employee actually does.

Text message showing a manager letting employee take time off but reacting with shock when the employee actually does.

Manager and employee in office, manager frustrated as employee takes time off, expressing shock and disbelief.

Image credits: Ambreen (not the actual image)

Text excerpt about an employee discussing time off and a manager reacting, highlighting manager lets employee take time off.

Text showing details about employee time off policy with manager letting employee take time off and reacting unexpectedly.

Text showing an employee explaining how they will take 1.25 days off over upcoming Fridays and a Monday after a meeting.

Image credits: Careless-Cat3327

Around a third of workers are dealing with a toxic boss right now

We already spend so much time at our jobs. So when that time suddenly stretches into a whole weekend, as it did for the author of this story, it becomes incredibly demoralizing. It is even worse when the compensation you deserve never appears. And when it finally does, in the form of free Friday afternoons, you still end up getting called anyway.

Anyone would lose patience in a situation like that. Sadly, dealing with poor management is something many workers recognize all too well. One study found that 71 percent of employees have had a toxic boss at some point in their careers. A third are dealing with one right now.

And even when a boss is not intentionally toxic, they may still believe the relationship with their team is far better than it actually is. Research from Checkr shows that most managers think they communicate well and understand their employees, but far fewer workers agree.

In this story, the author at least had HR step in with a fair response. Many people are not as lucky, and the idea of standing up to a boss can be terrifying when you rely on your job. Harvard Business Review has a few pieces of advice for handling situations like these, including when it is time to walk away. Here is a summary of their main points.

One of their first suggestions is to put your own well-being first. When you work under someone who constantly creates stress, it is easy to internalize their mood and frustration. Your own emotions get pushed aside until you feel drained.

HBR recommends building habits that help you separate yourself from the tension, like investing time in hobbies, spending time with people who support you, or simply writing things down. Journaling has been shown to help people process stress and think more clearly. Even a few minutes a day can help put distance between you and whatever happened at work.

Another recommendation is to try having a constructive conversation with the boss, but only if it feels safe. The idea is to stay factual and calm. You explain how certain actions affect your ability to work well without turning the discussion into an argument. For example, instead of accusing someone of not valuing you, you explain that a specific decision made you feel undermined. The goal is to communicate without escalating the situation.

HBR also stresses the importance of keeping records. Notes, emails, and summaries of conversations can be incredibly helpful if you ever need support from HR. Writing a quick follow-up email after receiving verbal instructions is a simple way to protect yourself and avoid misunderstandings.

If things do not improve, it helps to talk to someone you trust at work. Other employees might have similar experiences and can offer advice. A mentor or senior colleague might also give you a clearer picture of what is happening behind the scenes.

And finally, if speaking directly is not realistic, HR can be an important next step. They can look at the documented facts and help you find a reasonable solution. And if nothing changes, HBR encourages workers to remember that leaving is always an option. No job is worth the long-term damage of dealing with someone who constantly undermines you.

Working for a toxic boss is incredibly hard. But understanding your options, protecting your wellbeing, and knowing when to move on can help you navigate situations that feel impossible.

Image credits: pixel-shot.com (not the actual image)

Readers called out the manager’s behavior as completely unprofessional

Screenshot of Reddit comments discussing an employee taking time off and issues with HR leave tracking systems.

Online discussion about a manager letting employee take time off and reacting negatively when time off is used.

Manager frustrated as employee takes approved time off, highlighting challenges of managing employee leave policies.

Chat conversation showing a manager letting employee take time off and reacting with disbelief when the employee actually uses it.

Text message on social media showing a comment about manager and employee time off frustrations in a casual conversation.

Manager lets employee take time off and reacts with shock when the employee actually takes the requested time off.

Screenshot of a comment discussing the challenges when a manager lets an employee take time off but then reacts negatively.

Text post with user expressing strong dislike for managers who exploit employees working extra on weekends.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment expressing sympathy about workplace conditions related to a manager letting an employee take time off.

Manager shocked as employee takes time off after being allowed, highlighting workplace time off conflicts and reactions.

Comment about retaliation from a manager after an employee takes time off, highlighting workplace conflict.

Manager watching surprised employee leave office early, reacting unexpectedly to time off being taken.

Comment text discussing need to take time off and leave the country, highlighting manager lets employee take time off scenario.

Manager looks shocked as employee takes time off, highlighting unexpected reactions in workplace time-off situations.

Comment discussing confusion over work arrangement and unwritten Friday rule about stopping work at 2 pm.

Comment discussing employee taking time off and manager’s reaction, highlighting work compensation and time off frustrations.

Comment warning about not trusting a manager when an employee takes time off as allowed.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment advising to leave a job due to a bad boss and manager issues over employee time off.

Comment thread showing a user discussing a manager who lets employee take time off but then freaks out when it happens.

Screenshot of a comment expressing disbelief about an employee taking two days of paid time off.

Text conversation about a manager allowing employee time off and reacting negatively when the employee takes the leave.

Screenshot of a forum comment about retirement, illustrating a manager reacting when employee takes time off as allowed.

Comment discussing company policy on Sunday work approval and double pay, related to manager lets employee take time off situation.

At the same time, many were impressed with how HR handled the situation

Text comment saying “Props to that HR lady” with username and points visible, related to manager lets employee take time off story.

Comment about manager and employee interaction, highlighting unexpected reaction when employee takes time off as allowed.

Comment showing someone supporting HR and predicting the manager lets employee take time off will lead to the manager’s firing.

Screenshot of an online comment advising to find a different job due to a manager freaking out when employee takes time off.

Manager looking shocked as employee takes unexpected time off at the office, expressing frustration and disbelief.

Others chimed in with similar stories

Reddit comment describing a manager letting employee take time off, then freaking out after tracking their location.

Screenshot of a Reddit comment discussing a manager who freaks out when an employee takes time off as allowed.

Comment about manager letting employee take time off and testing backup plans during employee absence at work.

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