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There’s nothing like a good, long holiday to get away from work, recharge your batteries, and give you a fresh perspective on what life is all about. There can be no quality work without quality rest, nearly everyone knows that. However, even though it seems completely natural to take some time off so you’re fresh and brimming with energy again, far from every employer is happy with that and, in the end, many employees feel guilty about asking to go on holiday.
That’s exactly the issue that Twitter user Lordsprout tackled in a viral online post. She said that the idea of “requesting” time off is “insane” and that we should be talking about “notifying” our employers when we won’t be at work. “They don’t own you; you simply sell them your time. You notify them as a courtesy so they can staff accordingly. They can’t dictate your life,” she said.
In response, some employees shared exactly what happened to them when they asked for some time off. You know, something that’s entirely normal. However, what they shared might just make your jaw drop with how unfair things seem.
Image credits: lordsprout
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When you go on holiday, you reduce your stress levels and improve your health. That’s nothing groundbreakingly new, but vital to remember it. Forbes explains that in the short term, the levels of certain hormones like cortisol and adrenaline get raised by stress, and this can be helpful because it triggers your ‘fight or flight’ response. However, chronic stress can lead to serious health issues like heart disease.
One study that was released by the American Psychological Association came to the conclusion that taking time off from work helps reduce stress. This is because people remove themselves from all the activities and environments that they learned to associate with anxiety. While you’re away from an anxiety-inducing environment, odds are that you’ll be spending more time outdoors, in nature which, of course, is good for your health.
#4
Paula Marowsky 3 years ago
Couldn't you just turn of the cell phone??... why would anyone want any phone call when in labor??
#5
Random Panda 3 years ago (edited)
This is insane to me, where I'm from time off for your wedding, birth of a child, a death in the family, etc are protected by law. It's just a couple of days, but no one can stop you from taking them. You also can't be denied time off if you request it a month in advance. WTAF.
Professor Eddy Ng previously explained to Bored Panda that it is vital that employees know their rights. “Labor laws or employment standards will require employers to provide regular employees with paid time off for statutory holidays. In the event that an employer requires an employee to work over the holiday period, the employee will be eligible for statutory holiday pay—the amount varies across different jurisdictions,” he explained.
“Employees can and should remind employers of their statutory rights pertaining to holiday or holiday pay should they work. Employers may face fines if they violate labor laws or employment standards,” Professor Ng said.
#9
Alex the Country Dog 3 years ago (edited)
Yes and no. Unless you are the ONLY employee, there really are a lot of other people to consider, and being hardnosed about the week you choose can make you just as much the a***. As someone whose spouse was always giving up the a desired vacation week because some co-worker REFUSES to budget on WHATEVER week that person chooses each year, I've seen firsthand how co-workers can be awful, ugly, and self-centered, and their bosses are often just doing their best to accommodate multiple requests for the same dates. Let's face it--unless a company closes for each holiday, most employees try to utilize the same times of the year for vacation to get those extra holiday days off. Also now that my spouse is corporate and over several other managers, he STILL often gives up his choice of vacation week if an employee insists on a specific week, now as boss doing what he wishes had been done to accommodate him over the years. Not all employees are righteous victims of the big bad bosses here.
“Employees are entitled to know and should know their rights when working over a holiday period. This information should be provided in employee handbooks and it is good management practice to let employees know of their entitlements. Employees may also contact the Department of Labor that enforces labor laws or employment standards to file a complaint,” the professor said.
#10
#12
“Sometimes, it is necessary to ask employees to work during a holiday period. However, employers have a duty to accommodate employees who are unable to work over a holiday period for religious observances (religious accommodation). Employees should inform their employers in advance to allow their employers to find replacement workers. US laws also require employers to accommodate employees only to the point of undue hardship, i.e., more than a de minimis cost or burden to the employer.”
#13
404 Panda Not Found 3 years ago
Is it just me or did you read that as 'Super here's my please turn over request'?
#15
Draaideur 3 years ago (edited)
This is disturbing in many ways. There are quite a few places in the world where these practices are illegal (16h days, threatening termination when taking leave, 24h shifts). Of course people need to earn to provide for themselves and their families but at what cost of life quality? The USA oriented posts here show that (some) norms and values of US society are outdated, unsustainable, and unhealthy for the mind and general mindset. For foreigners the USA seems to be (increasingly) on a slippery slope downwards. It is inconceivable that such practices are accepted by the people. I hope this person is doing better now.
Lordsprout’s thread on Twitter received a lot of attention online. It got over 13.1k likes and was retweeted nearly 2.5k times.
In a perfect world, what Lordsprout says should be how things happen: when we’d need to take a day or a week off, we’d simply notify our employers that, hey, I’m off to enjoy life outside the job for a bit. However, this isn’t a perfect world that we live in.
#17
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago
You got the traditional severance. The luck of not being in a “right to work” state.
Unless you’re very high up in your company’s hierarchy or the business fully trusts its workers, you can’t take time off at the drop of a hat (unless it’s a family emergency, of course). If you want a vacation, that means communicating with quite a few people.
#20
Pungent Sauce 3 years ago
Small scale kitchens in resort towns were the worst for time off. There’s none, as they’re only open maybe 10mos/year. You’re there the whole time and then off and unpaid during “off season”. Good luck filing job-attached unemployment unless your boss loves you, there’s no 2 weeks paid vacation and OT does NOT kick in at 40hrs. Oh, no health insurance either, and almost no calling in sick. You show up and if you actually look/sound bad enough you might get sent home. Maybe. ‘Murica!
#21
For instance, odds are that you’ll have to inform both your manager/direct supervisor, as well as a member of your human resources team (if the company has one). Then they’ll check if it’s not an incredibly busy time for the company and if there are enough people on the team to get the job done with you being gone for a bit.
Checking in with so many people for time off, which you should get depending on your contract, can seem like quite a hassle. However, it’s become pretty standard practice and, usually, there are no issues at all. Naturally, some industries have very busy periods of time that can last a month or a few, so managers tend to dissuade their employees from taking time off then.
#22
BigOrangeTractor 3 years ago
Crappy Manager Playbook. Basically telling you 'go and hector Sally into rescinding her non-essential holiday request so I don't have to get off my backside and, you know, manage anything.'
#23
Sheila Stamey 3 years ago
I would have pretended to think I put him on hold and was calling an employment lawyer. You know. " Hang on boss, I'll be right back ,just hold a sec. Beep boop ( tones really loud in his ear from fake dialing. ) Hello is this (Whoever in your area instills fear, in our area the guys name is actually Buzzard like the bird) MR Buzzard? Do I have a case for you!!"
#24
It might not sound fair if your manager denies you time off during the busiest time of the year for the company, however, the issue here is about proper communication. If everyone knows upfront that everyone’s going to be incredibly busy around the holidays, then it’s easier to juggle your vacation plans and go before/after the busy season.
#26
404 Panda Not Found 3 years ago
You shouldn't get in trouble for being unavailable, when in hospital.
On the flip side, if the rules regarding time off are incredibly opaque and kept secret, then odds are that you’ll have a lot of angry workers on your hands. The reason for denying someone time off has to be water-tight. It can’t be some random excuse like, “No, you can’t take time off because I said so” or, “No, it’s all hands on deck” if it’s actually just business as usual.
#28
Dorothy Parker 3 years ago
Reprehensible. Interestingly, these bosses eventually behave the same way in their personal lives.
Working without proper breaks can lead to burnout. If you can’t spend quality time with your family, can’t find the energy to take care of your health, and can’t find the time for your passion projects and hobbies, you won’t have much motivation to continue working at your job. Aside from your wage, of course. However, working for money alone won’t inspire you to do your best and will likely leave you working at minimum power. Take the burnout out of the equation and you might have someone motivated to reach for the stars.
#31
Kathryn Baylis 3 years ago (edited)
Had the same thing an a previous job when I told them IN ADVANCE, meaning before I even started, that I was going back to college, and that I would register for classes early so I could give them a copy of my schedule well in advance of the schedule being made. At first, it was cool. Then the cool boss retired, and an anti-intellectual asshole took their place. Suddenly, I saw myself put on the schedule at times I would be sitting in class. If you went to college, you know what it’s like to reschedule classes last minute. When I said I gave them my school schedule weeks ago, they said I needed to choose school or the job. I took the issue to that boss’ boss. Didn’t happen again, but then the retaliation started. Every time, I would go to that same higher-up, and things would settle down for a while. After three more years of that s**t, I graduated, got another job and was overjoyed to put in my notice.
#33
Valisbourne Spiritforge 3 years ago
Screwed up situation or not, he failed the CYA policy. CYA means getting everything in writing. (having said that, his boss was an ass)
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What do you think ?
Bullerephon 3 years ago
As someone who is in the US, can confirm that these were all most likely in the US. I'm luckily working for an international company at the moment that actually cares about us and forces us to take time off every month.
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Kari Panda 3 years ago
I am deeply grateful I am living in a country with decent workers‘ rights. Not everything’s perfect, but could straight up take your employer to court for a lot of these cases.
Bianca Saville 3 years ago
I'm in the UK and although our rights are protected it still really hurts if your boss is nasty about something like time off for a funeral. You can't legislate against ars*oles.
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Ian Reynolds 3 years ago
Most of these must be American, the best thing about working and living in Europe, is that holiday and workers rights are protected, I am not saying we are not sometimes exploited, but we have more protection.
Burs 3 years ago
We have more protection but some aspects are really bad, like internships, temp or migrant jobs.
Load More Replies... Bullerephon 3 years ago
As someone who is in the US, can confirm that these were all most likely in the US. I'm luckily working for an international company at the moment that actually cares about us and forces us to take time off every month.
Load More Replies... Kari Panda 3 years ago
I am deeply grateful I am living in a country with decent workers‘ rights. Not everything’s perfect, but could straight up take your employer to court for a lot of these cases.
Bianca Saville 3 years ago
I'm in the UK and although our rights are protected it still really hurts if your boss is nasty about something like time off for a funeral. You can't legislate against ars*oles.
Load More Replies... Ian Reynolds 3 years ago
Most of these must be American, the best thing about working and living in Europe, is that holiday and workers rights are protected, I am not saying we are not sometimes exploited, but we have more protection.
Burs 3 years ago
We have more protection but some aspects are really bad, like internships, temp or migrant jobs.
Load More Replies...
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