21-05-2025
Boss sparks outrage for cancelling employee's annual leave ONE day before his holiday - and that's just the beginning
An Australian worker has gone viral after his boss attempted to cancel his annual leave just hours before he was due to fly out on holiday - and well after 11pm on a Sunday night.
The shocking exchange, shared with content creator and podcaster Chris Donnelly, has sparked fierce debate online about toxic work culture and the erosion of personal boundaries.
In a TikTok post that quickly racked up thousands of views, Donnelly read out the jaw-dropping messages, which began with a blunt demand from the employee's manager: 'Urgent. We need to cancel your leave starting tomorrow. A major client meeting has come up and your input is essential.'
Clearly blindsided, the employee responded: 'I'm sorry, what? I can't just cancel. What time is the call, maybe I can just dial in?'
But that suggestion was immediately shut down.
The boss replied that dialling in was not an option because it reflected poorly on the team.
Despite offering a compromise, the employee remained firm, stating: 'I'm sorry, I'm not cancelling my holiday. I'll dial in if it's important, but otherwise you'll have to figure it out.'
The manager persisted, writing: 'Mate. We need this. We'll compensate you for the time. You know we have to be flexible with clients.'
The shocking exchange, shared with content creator and podcaster Chris Donnelly, has sparked fierce debate online about toxic work culture and the erosion of personal boundaries
In response, the employee highlighted the sacrifices he'd already made, including working weekends, covering for other workers, and working late.
Things quickly escalated as the boss tried to rope the employee's personal life into the negotiation. 'I'm sure your girlfriend will understand. Can you call me?'
The employee, now extremely irritated, replied: 'Just asked my wife and her direct words were 'absolutely not', so I think you're wrong there.'
He added, 'Genuinely I feel like I should be raising this with HR. You have messaged me on my personal number, on holiday, about working.'
Rather than backing down, the boss delivered what many viewers have described as a thinly veiled threat: 'Well HR are unlikely to care, this client pays almost half their salaries.'
He then proposed a delay in the holiday: 'Maybe we work out a partial attendance for the meeting - you stay a day or two behind, then you can join your family event?'
That suggestion didn't go down well either.
'I'm not sure I understand the point about the client paying for HR?' the employee shot back.
'That's just not going to happen. Jon, do you really think these are appropriate messages to be sending on a Sunday night?'
He added, 'What you're doing is creating an awful dynamic here. Like really awful. If we can just leave it here, then I won't take it any further, because I'd like to keep things sweet at the company.'
Still unwilling to accept defeat, the boss responded: 'We'll talk about this more when you're back. I'm furious you won't help here for 60 minutes. This could have huge repercussions on your career though.'
The employee calmly delivered the final word: 'And if it does, I'm documenting this conversation - so let's hope it doesn't, eh!'
The manager's last message was simply, 'Enjoy your holiday.'
Speaking on TikTok, Chris Donnelly didn't hold back in his reaction.
'I mean, that's so unreasonable to ask someone to come home from their holiday - to try and manipulate them and say that their career is going to be damaged. Obviously, if you're on holiday, just don't reply.'
The video triggered a wave of support for the employee, and fury at the boss's unrelenting pressure - particularly given the time of night the messages were sent.
'Also the fact these messages are after 11pm on what he says is a Sunday night?!' one viewer wrote.
Another commenter added: 'It's also nearly midnight these messages are being sent - I just wouldn't have answered the first one.'
Some were quick to draw a line between healthy and toxic work environments.
'And that is why I have two phones. The work one stays at home,' one person noted.
Others expressed disbelief that the client meeting was being treated as a life-or-death moment.
'I guarantee the client would not only be fine if he called in - but be impressed he'd do it while on holiday.'
Several commenters shared suggestions for how companies can protect workers from similar treatment, with one writing: 'Put a clause into annual leave policy that if a worker is contacted while on approved and sanctioned leave - unless it is 100 per cent unavoidable - then leave restarts at day one. That would stop this!'
For many, the key issue wasn't just the timing of the messages, but the tone.
One user summarised it simply: 'Leadership means trust, not control. Respect personal time to inspire true loyalty.'
Another added bluntly: 'Is time to change your career if this does compromise your career.'
The situation has once again put the spotlight on work/life boundaries in Australia - and how many employees feel they're being expected to sacrifice their wellbeing for the sake of 'team spirit'.
For some, it was just another example of the blurred lines in modern work culture. For others, it was the final straw.
