As conversations around workplace burnout and work-life balance continue to grow louder, disputes over paid time off remain a major source of stress for many employees. A recent Reddit post has brought this issue into sharp focus, with one worker describing how a long-promised vacation was abruptly taken away just days before it was set to begin, leaving them feeling exhausted, anxious, and close to breaking point.
According to the post, the employee first raised the issue of taking time off early last month. At the time, their manager said the request could not be formally entered into the system because new PTO hours had not yet been credited for the year. However, the manager allegedly reassured the employee that the time off would be accommodated and advised them to check back closer to the planned dates to confirm the leave.
When the employee followed up to finalise two weeks off, the response reportedly changed. The manager denied recalling the earlier conversation and said the leave could not be approved, citing company rules around holiday periods, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Day window. As a result, the employee now expects to wait at least another two months before being able to take any paid leave.
Ongoing exhaustion and mounting stress
The employee said the sudden reversal has had a serious impact on their mental state. They explained that they have not had a full weekend off in nearly two months and have gone several years without a genuine break from work. Any time away during that period, they added, was spent searching for new jobs rather than resting or recovering.
With the vacation scheduled to begin in just five days, the cancellation felt particularly crushing. The employee shared that they had been relying on the upcoming break to get through an intense period at work, and losing it made the workload feel never-ending and overwhelming.
Responses highlight workplace boundaries
The post quickly drew reactions from other Reddit users, many of whom shared advice based on similar experiences. Some stressed the importance of documenting discussions about leave by sending follow-up emails to managers, especially when approvals are given verbally.
Others argued that paid time off is part of an employee’s compensation and should not be treated as optional. These commenters said they no longer seek permission for leave but instead notify employers of their unavailability, particularly when travel or personal commitments are involved.