Latest news with #BenAskins
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘This is a joke right?' Boss goes viral for trying to cancel worker's annual leave
A boss is going viral for asking a worker to cancel their annual leave in the middle of their holiday. Yes seriously. UK Workplace expert Ben Askins, who has found his sweet spot online by sharing anonymous but wild text message exchanges between bosses and employees, has found yet another baffling exchange. There's also no warm-up with this exchange. The boss doesn't even with pleasantries; instead they fire off a text a text explaining that they are 'sorry' to do this but there's been a 'mistake' and they're going to have to can their worker's annual leave. 'I am going to have to cancel the second half of your annual leave this week. You'll need to be in the office Thursday and Friday,' the boss texted. 'Huh? But I'm already in Mexico,' the worker replied. The boss then completely ignored the fact they were in a foreign country and continued to demand the worker return. 'Sorry but like I said there's nothing I can do. I am going to update the system now saying you'll be in,' the boss fired back. The worker desperately tried to apply some logic to the situation and points out again they're in a different country. 'I won't be in. I'm literally in another country there's no scenario where I can make it back in time,' the worker claims. The boss seemingly ignores the message and tells the worker, 'you will have to' move your flights around before claiming they found a return flight for Wednesday evening. 'This is a joke right? You aren't seriously asking me this?' The worker texted back. The boss confirmed it was not a joke. 'I am not asking. I am telling you the situation. I appreciate it isn't ideal, but too many people are off Thursday and Friday, so you're just going to have to be back here by then,' the boss demands. The employee refused to give in and informed the boss that he could 'do what they want,' but they wouldn't be returning to work early. 'Even if I wanted to come back in time, which I can't, I wouldn't. If you push this! I will be reporting you,' the worker said. Mr Askins immediately slammed the boss and pointed out there's no excuse to make such outrageous demands. 'Oh come on. You must know you're not allowed to do that,' he said. 'He has obviously made a mistake. He has got the roster wrong. That sounds like a problem for sure, but it certainly isn't the poor employees' in Mexico's problem.' The workplace added that annual leave is a 'right, not a privilege,' and no boss can interfere with it just because it is convenient for them. Online people were shocked. 'This first mistake is replying,' one noted. 'I wouldn't even respond,' another said. 'I'd report it anyway. The boss has to learn,' someone else said. 'I would report him. He ruined her holidays. I would get a new holiday for the distress he caused,' another said. 'I actually genuinely hate bosses and managers who think they own you simply because you work for a company! It's sickening,' someone else shared.
India Today
3 days ago
- 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.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
"Not A Request": Boss Threatens Woman With Pay Cut For Refusing To Work On Day Off
A boss in the UK is facing intense backlash online after threatening to dock an employee's bonus for refusing to work on her approved day off. The confrontation, shared widely on Instagram by workplace expert Ben Askins, has sparked debate over toxic work culture and employee rights. The controversy began when the manager asked an employee to cover a presentation for a colleague busy with a client. The woman responded, reminding her boss that she had pre-approved leave and had plans with her children. "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 reply stunned social media users: "It wasn't really a request, to be honest. I need you in by 11 am." When the employee pushed back, citing weeks of extra hours and the importance of her approved leave, 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 insisted. The employee pointed out the unfairness of prioritising a colleague's absence over her family time. The boss then replied, "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 screenshots quickly went viral, with users criticising the manager's tone and misuse of authority. Many urged the employee to report the incident to Human Resources. "I hope she reports him to hr," one user commented. Another wrote, "I don't know why this person is responding. You know you had booked off and it was approved. It wouldn't matter what the boss needed. That's their job to be the boss and or reschedule the meeting since the person is not available. YOU are not available." While the identity of the company has not been revealed, the incident has reignited conversations around workplace boundaries and respect for personal time.
Mint
4 days ago
- 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.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Boss sparks outrage with 'absurd' texts to an employee on their holiday: 'This is beyond inappropriate'
A boss has been slammed online for attempting to cancel an employee's approved annual leave after the worker had already arrived at their destination. The text exchange, shared on British career expert Ben Askins ' TikTok account, has gone viral and sparked fierce debate about workplace boundaries and power abuse. In the messages, the boss contacted the employee late in the week with a blunt message: 'Hey, I am sorry to do this so late, but there has been a mistake with the annual leave and I am 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.' The stunned employee replied, 'Huh? But I am already in Mexico?' Unfazed, the manager continued: 'Sorry, like I said, there is nothing I can do. I am going to update the system now saying you will be in.' The employee made it clear this wasn't possible: 'But I won't be in? I am literally in another country, there is no scenario where I can make it back in time.' Incredibly, the boss doubled down and suggested a new flight. 'You will have to move your flights around. I have just checked and there is one on Wednesday evening that you can get.' A boss has been slammed online for attempting to cancel an employee's approved annual leave after the worker had already arrived at their destination The employee, increasingly frustrated, asked: 'This is a joke right? You aren't seriously asking me this?' The response was serious: 'Definitely not a joke. And I am not asking, I am telling you the situation. I appreciate it isn't ideal but too many people are off Thursday and Friday and so you are going to have to be back here by then. I have updated the system.' At that point, the employee shut it down: 'You can do what you want. Even if I wanted to come back in time (which I can't), I wouldn't, and if you push this I will be reporting this.' Ben Askins, who regularly posts workplace advice to his large TikTok following, was stunned by the boss's behaviour. In his video, he told viewers the demand was 'completely out of order' and reminded workers that annual leave, once approved, is a right, not something that can be taken away at a manager's convenience. He pointed out the absurdity of the situation, saying it was not the employee's job to solve rota mistakes made by management. Instead of trying to drag a worker back from their holiday, the company should have looked for a contractor or a temporary solution. The video struck a nerve with thousands of viewers, many of whom shared their own workplace horror stories in the comments. The text exchange, shared on British career expert Ben Askins' TikTok account, has gone viral and sparked fierce debate about workplace boundaries and power abuse One person said they would only consider returning under one condition: 'Pay for my flights, reimburse my holiday in full and book me another holiday where you won't disturb me - and we have a deal.' Others couldn't believe the employee even replied. 'Their first mistake is replying. No signal in Mexico,' one viewer joked. Another added, 'Why do people reply when on holiday? I would just leave it unread.' One user recalled being in Dubai for their brother's wedding when the assistant manager of a German supermarket demanded they fly home for a four-hour shift - or face disciplinary action. Another explained how they're expected to check the work roster daily, even on scheduled days off, or risk being written up if it changes without notice. Others shared stories of their leave being cancelled due to staffing changes, with one employee billing HR for their pre-booked trip after cover fell through - and receiving only a snarky 'have a nice trip' in response. While the texts in question came from the UK, similar workplace protections exist in Australia. Once leave is approved and commenced, cancelling it without mutual agreement is generally considered unlawful. The incident has sparked broader conversations around toxic management, poor planning, and the erosion of work-life boundaries. Commenters were quick to express their frustration with bosses who treat employees as if they are on call around the clock. In the words of one viewer: 'I actually genuinely hate bosses and managers who think they own you simply because you work for a company. It's sickening.' Askins echoed those sentiments and urged employees to know their rights. He said the boss in this case didn't just mishandle the situation - they trampled over basic employment standards and common sense. For many watching online, the story wasn't just about one bad manager. It became a symbol of the creeping expectation that workers should sacrifice personal time for jobs that offer little in return, even when they're halfway across the world.
