Latest news with #annualleave
News.com.au
3 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.
Daily Mail
5 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.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
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.
