Latest news with #Askins
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boss blasted over outrageous text sent to worker with broken leg: ‘Absolutely not'
A boss has gone viral for the wild text messages they sent a worker who had just broken their leg. The exchange has sparked conversation online, with others saying similar things had happened in their workplace. UK workplace expert Ben Askins is known for sharing anonymous text messages submitted by workers calling out their bosses' bad behaviour. He recently shared an exchange between a boss and an employee who broke his leg coming off his bike and was in the hospital. The boss messaged the worker after finding out they weren't able to do their shift the next day. He said he was 'sorry' to hear about the situation he was in, but immediately asked when he would be back at work. RELATED Bosses warned as Gen Z worker sacrifices $15,000 in growing trend: 'Standard expectation' $4,400 ATO car tax deduction that most Aussies miss: 'Easy win' Centrelink $1,011 cash boost for Aussie farmers doing it tough: 'Get back on track' 'Not sure yet, doctor's said definitely need to be in bed for a few days and then they will measure me for crutches,' the worker replied. 'Ideally I need you in for the Friday shift, do you think you will make it? I can get you a chair,' the boss responded with. The worker then responded, saying 'no worries' if the doctor says it is 'all good', to which the boss replies that doctors are 'always overly cautious' and he needs him to 'commit to it'. "Like I said, if the doctor is happy I will do it, but if they say no then I can't," the worker replied. 'Come on, I am doing what I can to help you here. It isn't a great look being off work already when you only started two weeks ago,' the boss texted. Fed up, the worker responded with: 'Then let me make it even easier for you, I quit.' Askins immediately blasted the boss and pointed out that the employer was being 'reasonable' in saying that he would work if he got the medical sign-off. He said the boss was "absolutely not" doing all they could to help the worker by simply offering him a chair. He said it shouldn't matter that he only started in the job a few weeks ago. 'He's broken his leg. He's not done it on purpose. He's not gone, 'That Friday shift is looking a bit rough to me, I'm going to come off my bike and break my leg,'' he said. Askins said it was 'fair enough' that the work quit over the text. 'What this boss is playing at, I have absolutely no idea,' he said. Online, people sided with the worker. 'Do they think the bone is going to heal faster because the employee's only been there two weeks?' one said. 'I'm a manager and I cannot ever imagine a scenario where I'd say this to a member of staff, it's wild,' another said. Others said they had been in similar situations with their boss. 'I was a nurse (now medically retired). I collapsed at work and was found to have had a bleed on my brain,' one person said. 'My manager came to the ward I was on after I'd just had a lumbar puncture and was asking when I'd be back at work because I was scheduled for night duty the day after, and I 'should know how hard it is to get cover'.' 'Broke my ankle, my boss said it wasn't an excuse to miss work because she broke her ankle years ago and didn't take any time off,' another while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data
India Today
28-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Boss tries to cancel employee's pre-approved leave, says her bonus is at risk
A manager's attempt to cancel an employee's leave and force her to work on her day off didn't sit well with the internet, and neither did his threat to slash her bonus for all happened through a text conversation between the unnamed boss and a woman who had pre-approved leave for the day. Screenshots of their exchange were shared by UK-based workplace expert Ben Askins in a post on Instagram. Askins blurred out the names, but the internet still didn't hold issue began when the boss casually texted the employee, saying, 'Hey, Jasper won't be coming in today so you'll need to handle the presentation.' The woman pushed back politely, reminding him that her day off had already been cleared. 'Sorry, I can't. I've got today booked off for plans with the kids. I'll be back on Monday,' she the boss wasn't having it. 'It wasn't really a request TBH. I need you in by 11am,' he when the conversation turned tense. The employee stood her ground and pointed out that she'd been working overtime for weeks and was well within her rights to take the day off. The manager doubled down.'One day isn't too much to ask. I can revoke your day off and expect you in at 11 am,' he she said it didn't feel fair, especially since another colleague was reportedly at brunch—the boss snapped back, 'Not going to lie. I decide what is fair. We will have a conversation about our commitment when you're in today. If you're not here, it is coming out of your bonus.'The exchange didn't go down well. Several users slammed the manager's behaviour in the comments section of the a look at the post here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ben Askins (@ section of the internet questioned why the woman even responded in the first place. 'The first text message should not have been responded to. It is that simple,' a user said, while another added, 'I'm confused why people are even responding on days off. Any work devices get turned off and any sent to private gets ignored.'Others rallied behind the employee and urged her to take it up with the comments here:While the boss may have thought he was asserting authority, the internet felt otherwise. The conversation sparked a larger debate on workplace boundaries, and users agreed on one thing: time off isn't optional, it's earned.
Mint
28-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Boss's ultimatum to work on day off or lose bonus sparks anger online
A manager is facing widespread backlash on social media after pressuring an employee to work on a pre-approved day off, even threatening to dock her bonus if she failed to comply. The incident came to light after UK workplace expert Ben Askins shared screenshots of their text exchange on Instagram. While the identities of both the manager and employee have been kept anonymous, the story has struck a chord online. Askins also posted a video about the situation on TikTok, which has since garnered over 27 million views, with thousands condemning the manager's behaviour as 'insane'. Also read | Contractual employee calls Zepto's work culture 'toxic,' 'straight-up abusive' The issue began when the manager messaged a team member, asking her to step in for a colleague who wouldn't be coming to work that day. 'Hey, Jasper won't be coming in today so you'll need to handle the presentation,' the message read. Read | Strategies to survive a toxic workplace The woman responded, reminding her manager that she had the day off. 'Sorry, I can't. I've got today booked off for plans with the kids. I'll be back on Monday,' she replied. The boss's reply stunned many: 'It wasn't really a request TBH. I need you in by 11am.' The employee pushed back, explaining she had been working overtime for weeks and deserved her approved leave — especially to spend time with her children. But the manager remained unyielding. Read | 'Complete task by 4 pm, or else...': Techie quits 'toxic' job in 45 days; gets flooded with support on Reddit 'One day isn't too much to ask. I can revoke your day off and expect you in at 11am,' he wrote. 'That doesn't feel very fair,' she countered, pointing out that another colleague was simply out for brunch, while her family time was being disregarded. The boss then sent a final, eyebrow-raising message: 'Not going to lie. I decide what is fair. We will have a conversation about our commitment when you're in today. If you're not here, it is coming out of your bonus.' The exchange quickly drew outrage online, with many expressing disbelief at the manager's domineering tone. A large number of commenters urged the employee to escalate the matter to Human Resources, calling the boss's behaviour unacceptable and toxic. 'The first text message should not have been responded to. It is that simple,' an Instagram commenter wrote. 'I'm confused why people are even responding on days off, any work devices get turned off and any sent to private gets ignored,' another said. 'Hope this was reported to HR,' a user added. 'That's so rude,' another wrote.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
‘It wasn't a request': Boss asks employee to work on day-off, threatens to cut her bonus
One boss is getting slammed on social media for demanding that an employee work on her pre-approved day off and threatening to cut her bonus if she failed to show up. Screenshots of their text exchange were shared on Instagram by UK workplace expert Ben Askins. Askins kept the identities of the boss and employee anonymous, but his TikTok video has racked up more than 27 million views, with thousands of people criticising the boss for his 'insane' demand. The issue began when the boss texted a team member to handle a presentation on behalf of another employee. 'Hey, Jasper won't be coming in today so you'll need to handle the presentation,' the message read. The woman replied saying she had approved leave for the day and would therefore not be in office. 'Sorry, I can't. I've got today booked off for plans with the kids. I'll be back on Monday,' she wrote. The boss's response to this message left millions shocked. 'It wasn't really a request TBH. I need you in by 11am,' he fired back. The employee did not back down easily. She pointed out that she had been putting in extra hours for weeks and was entitled to leave, especially one that had already been approved in advance. However, the boss refused to budge. 'One day isn't too much to ask. I can revoke your day off and expect you in at 11 am,' he wrote. 'That doesn't feel very fair,' the employee wrote, arguing that a colleague at brunch should not get priority over her time with her children. 'Not going to lie. I decide what is fair. We will have a conversation about our commitment when you're in today. If you're not here, it is coming out of your bonus,' the boss responded. People were shocked by the exchange and the manager's attitude, with many urging the employee to file a complaint with Human Resources. 'The first text message should not have been responded to. It is that simple,' an Instagram commenter wrote. 'I'm confused why people are even responding on days off, any work devices get turned off and any sent to private gets ignored,' another said. 'Hope this was reported to HR,' a user added.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Boss slammed over outrageous text to worker on leave: 'I am not asking'
A boss has been slammed for trying to cancel a staff member's holiday even though they were already away. The unnamed manager reached out to a worker, who was in Mexico at the time, and explained that too many people were off at once and they needed to cut their leave short. Entrepreneur Ben Askins revealed the text message exchange between the two as the situation unfolded, with the worker asking whether this was all a "joke". The manager revealed it wasn't and pushed fairly hard to get the employee back into the office. "Sorry to do this so late, but there has been a mistake with the annual leave," the boss started. NAB staff threaten to quit after bank jumps on major work trend: 'They will walk' Common $358 a day expense the ATO lets you claim on tax without receipts Shock as Baby Boomers candidly reveal their savings balances: 'Millionaires everywhere' "I'm going to have to cancel the second half of your annual leave this week. You will need to be in the office Thursday and Friday." Even though the worker said getting to the office from Mexico was next to impossible, the manager claimed their hands were tied. "Sorry. Like I said, there's nothing I can do. I'm going to update the system now saying you'll be in," they said in a text message. Despite the staffer digging in their heels, the manager even found a flight on Wednesday that would have brought them back in time."I am not asking I am telling you the situation. I appreciate it is not ideal," they said. However, the worker wouldn't budge and threatened to escalate it if the boss didn't back down. "Even if I wanted to come back in time, which I can't, I wouldn't," they said. "And if you push this, I will be reporting it." Askins said this was a monumental stuff up on the manager's behalf and they had no right in taking away peoples' annual leave, especially if they were already off. He said if bosses found themselves in this situation, it's up to them to find someone else to get the work done and respect workers' time off. "Get a contractor in, get a freelancer... move things around," he said. "That's your problem to deal with. What's not okay is you meshing your employees on his annual leave in Mexico being like, 'You've got to be in on Thursday'. What do you think he's going to come back with? "Like, of course, he's not canceling his holiday... it's so dumb." But people have revealed this isn't an isolated incident and they've been hit with similar requests during their time off work. "Second company I worked for tried this, I was in Sweden, far north, so no trains and few planes in winter, and they said I needed to be in for my second week of holidays. Told them I'd be there in spirit," said one worker. "I was away for my brother's wedding in Dubai, the assistant manager of the supermarket texted me expecting me to come in the day before the wedding for a four-hour shift, as in fly home to the UK and fly back on my own expense, if I didn't I'd be disciplined. There was a disciplinary but it wasn't mine," added another. But many people had the same advice to avoid ending up in this situation. "I'm sorry but I never ever answer my phone on off hours. Leave a message and I'll get to it at my convenience. People need to start normalising boundaries," wrote a person. "This is why I don't reply on vacation," added another. In Australia, a boss can only cancel your annual leave under certain circumstances, but that's before you go on holiday. According to employment lawyers Jewel Hancock, employers must have "reasonable and genuine business reasons" to knock back an annual leave request. This can be if there is a particularly busy period during that time off or if other employees have already requested leave. "The Fair Work Act does not give employers a direct right to cancel an employee's approved annual leave, even if the business has reasonable grounds to want to cancel," Jewel Hancock said. "While your employer can request you to cancel planned leave, they cannot pressure you to do so. "Changes should be made with your consent, consideration of your financial loss and after exploring alternative options."
