Boss suddenly says can no longer take 2 weeks off!

[WinniWoman]

Just curious on input....

I am 60 years old and have worked my entire life full-time- no mommy breaks or anything. I have been at my current job for 11 years. Last year for the first time at this current job I took 2 weeks off in a row because I acquired a free timeshare ownership week 31 to tack onto my week 30. I told my boss about it. BTW-I always by February send an email to my bosses about all the time off I have planned for the year. If we don't take our PTO time off we lose it.

I pretty much work alone out in the field and no one has to fill in for me when I am gone except to pick up some papers in the morning from another office nearby. I am independent.

I do not have a crucial job in my estimation. I am not a nurse or a radiology tech or a front desk person. I am in health care marketing.

I was away week 30 and 31. I was also off Memorial week (to take care of some things at home and to go to Quebec City a few days) and the following week (my timeshare floater).

Anyway, my immediate boss calls me into his office today and asks what time off I am taking the rest of the year. I tell him the day after Thanksgiving and XMAS week. (Mind you- I never take any time off from January 2nd until at least Memorial Day - we only get 5 holidays off as it is. This past winter I only took one day off between Jan and May for a funeral.)

I never call in sick. I get a total of 28 PTO days. Was supposed to be 32 but they changed the policy way back when and cut it to 28 max accumulation after so many years of service.

So then he proceeds to tell me I can no longer take back to back vacations. I was stunned and didn't ask why. I wish I had. But I did tell him I own 2 weeks back to back timeshares in the summer and that the bigger boss knows about it and I cannot change it. That is always when I take vacation and now it is 2 weeks instead of one. He said he will have to see next year and he will have to talk to the bigger boss about it.

I mention this to a few coworkers, many who take 2 weeks in a row themselves- some "2" 2 week vacations per year. Not one of them said to me that he spoke to them as well or that he didn't say anything to them. So now I am thinking- was it only me? I know the front desk people usually can't do it ( they are treated horribly in terms of scheduling)but I am categorized with the nurses and techs in our radiology center and we have more PTO days and so on. One tech is taking two weeks starting next week.

My husband said maybe they are trying to get rid of me. But why would they even bring it up now if it isn't until next year?

Anyone have any insight? What am I missing?

 

[DeniseM]

This is a question for HR.

 

[WinniWoman]

This is a question for HR.

LOL! No HR in our place! By the way, I have always been well- liked by my boss and the bigger boss and coworkers- I know- not that that means anything. My salary and many others' have been capped for years- so no raises or reviews even.

Many long time employees have quit in the past few years- several this year. I have been hanging on because this is a rural area and not many jobs and at my age I do not want to start over anywhere. I have always said this is going to be my last employer until I retire or they fire me or I quit.

 

[Big Matt]

My guess is that he's fully within his rights to tell you not to take two weeks off. Most plans that I've seen give management the discretion to limit vacation.

Please read your company policies and see what you are entitled to. Could be that your manager has no rights to do this, but I doubt it.

 

[Elan]

Need to find out if it's company-wide (doesn't sound like it), and if not, what the criteria is and who it applies to. Your boss might be in violation of employment laws.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[WinniWoman]

I can't understand what his reasoning would even be. Like- why would he care if I take 2 weeks instead of one. It really doesn't affect anything at the office. I am racking my brain trying to figure it out. I walked in this morning and then he said can I talk to you and I said let me put my stuff down and I went right into his office and then he asked about the time off for the remainder of the year and then breaks this news to me.

 

[DeniseM]

Could some busy-body have complained about it?

 

[WinniWoman]

My guess is that he's fully within his rights to tell you not to take two weeks off. Most plans that I've seen give management the discretion to limit vacation.

Please read your company policies and see what you are entitled to. Could be that your manager has no rights to do this, but I doubt it.

New York is an "at will employer" state. Anyway, if it comes down to it I will ignore it and just put my time off plans for 2017 in next February like I always do and if he says I cannot have the two weeks off in a row, I plan to just give him different dates and put in for all my time off before July- separate weeks and all that and then resign in July and go to my timeshares. I will not tolerate this after working hard all my life. 2 lousy weeks in a row- life is short! What is he kidding me?

What if I wanted to go to Europe/Italy (on my bucket list) for a few weeks before I retire- (which I never have been except a week in Scotland) which I can't even get SS until age 66. I am supposed to wait until I could be using a walker? LOL!

 

[WinniWoman]

Could some busy-body have complained about it?

I guess it's possible, but like I said- some other people take two weeks in a row. Heaven forbid!

Maybe the woman/supervisor that was getting the papers I usually pick up in the morning?

 

[turkel]

I would ask to see the written company policy. If there isn't one I would find out if this "new" policy applies to all.

If you are singled out I would cry age discrimination and go with your plan to quit in July. It is unfair employer practices they lead to good employees resorting to extreme tactics to get deserved time off....hint hint soft tissue damage your back hurts and you get a doctors note for your 2 weeks off :hysterical:

Good luck

 

[slip]

If there was a change like that a memo should have went out to the whole company. Ours says you can only get more than two weeks consecutively with management approval. I got it one year and went to Maui and Kauai. It was great. I would have trouble getting it off again but I think I could but DW can't so I don't ask.

I don't see how it matters. You get to take all your days anyway. The coverage over the year is still the same.

 

[VacationForever]

You need to read your handbook on policies and procedures carefully. Number of Vacation time and Paid Time Off days are not mandated by law but have to be consistently applied to the same class of employees. HR policies usually will have a clause that says application for taking vacation time and paid time off have to be approved.

My experience tells me that your management has the right to not approve 2 weeks off in a row. However, you should very nicely "appeal" his decision, meaning, have a meeting with him and explain your situation as to why you need 2 weeks off in a row, to the extent that you are comfortable in disclosing personal situations. It hardly ever pays off to go head-on with management.

Unless he is totally unreasonable, which some people are, he may reverse his decision.

 

[Barnaby]

G'day mpermilia, i see a lot of encouragement to check labour laws, regulations and company policy, but don't forget to balance all of that against what is important to you physically, emotionally, psychologically, and of course financially. And following on from big matts comment, remember that if management have the discretion to limit vacation time, THEY ALSO HAVE THE DISCRETION TO EXTEND IT! Good luck.

 

[WinniWoman]

If there was a change like that a memo should have went out to the whole company. Ours says you can only get more than two weeks consecutively with management approval. I got it one year and went to Maui and Kauai. It was great. I would have trouble getting it off again but I think I could but DW can't so I don't ask.

I don't see how it matters. You get to take all your days anyway. The coverage over the year is still the same.

Ha! ha! This company doesn't send out no stinkin' memos! In fact, there is a major lack of communication.

I do have to look in the policy book. I do not think there is anything about it in there

And yes- it really shouldn't matter. It makes no sense.

 

[Ty1on]

G'day mpermilia, i see a lot of encouragement to check labour laws, regulations and company policy, but don't forget to balance all of that against what is important to you physically, emotionally, psychologically, and of course financially. And following on from big matts comment, remember that if management have the discretion to limit vacation time, THEY ALSO HAVE THE DISCRETION TO EXTEND IT! Good luck.

I see what you did there!

 

[WinniWoman]

G'day mpermilia, i see a lot of encouragement to check labour laws, regulations and company policy, but don't forget to balance all of that against what is important to you physically, emotionally, psychologically, and of course financially. And following on from big matts comment, remember that if management have the discretion to limit vacation time, THEY ALSO HAVE THE DISCRETION TO EXTEND IT! Good luck.

Yes- I know. And good point. I don't really care what the policy book says, but I will look at it. Though he never said anything about it until AFTER I took my vacation. The point is it is unfair and unreasonable. I can barely stand going to work every day as it is- the schedule of it. But I am a strong person and persistent and I do what I have to do.

I think of people who have summers off and lots of holidays and vacation and sick time and pensions and all that good stuff. Heck- I do not even take the health insurance with this employer so he is saving money on me. I get the capped 28 PTO days and the 5 holidays and a 401k match and the capped paycheck that will never go up.

And I can't take 2 weeks off in a row? I would rather be poor at this point in my life than put up with that!

 

[WinniWoman]

I would ask to see the written company policy. If there isn't one I would find out if this "new" policy applies to all.

If you are singled out I would cry age discrimination and go with your plan to quit in July. It is unfair employer practices they lead to good employees resorting to extreme tactics to get deserved time off....hint hint soft tissue damage your back hurts and you get a doctors note for your 2 weeks off :hysterical:

Good luck

Well- guess what? Some of my friends have suggested the same! LOL!

 

[DaveNV]

At the hospital where I work I had a previous Manager who liked to mess with people, as a power trip. He once tried to tell me I couldn't take my PTO unless I left a minimum of 40 hours on the books after my vacation. In other words, if I wanted 40 hours off, I'd have to have 80 hours on the books before I left.

I looked him right in the eye, and said, "Sorry, but I don't believe you. Show me that in writing."

He coughed and sputtered some, and then said, "Well, that should be the policy, because some people get back off vacation and have no PTO time left at all."

I asked why that was any of his concern - the PTO is theirs to take. If they get back with zero time left, why is that an issue? Our PTO is accrued every pay period, so within two weeks they'd have at least a few hours on the books.

He couldn't give me a reason, and changed the subject. What a PITA he was as Manager. I was delighted when a formal meeting was called, and he was unceremoniously dumped as our Manager, right in front of the twenty-some people he'd managed. They replaced him with a Temporary Contract employee until a permanent replacement was recruited. Obviously the Big Boss didn't think much of him as manager either.

Mary Ann, I'm not saying your Manager is as much of a jerk as mine was, but I'd ask him to please explain why suddenly, after all these years, you can't take off your two weeks, when other employees do it often, and sometimes more than once a year. Your time off is planned months in advance, and there is no hardship when you're gone. So why not? Maybe he's just fishing to see if you'll object.

Good luck!

Dave

 

[Icc5]

Communicate

You say you get along good with your boss. Ask if you could talk, find out if there is a specific reason, see if you can negotiate? Is it just at that time of year? Get the facts and go from there. Maybe your boss was just having a bad day.

 

[Luanne]

I always said [to myself] if I couldn't take my vacation when I wanted I'd quit. Luckily I never had to put that to the test. I hope you can work this out.

 

[am1]

I understand why a company may not want someone to take two weeks off in a row. It can be a lot more to catch up with when one gets back. Other companies may prefer employees to take longer vacations so there are less disruptions in the year.

I do not know the company policy but would think you would be best to leave the company. It does not seem like you enjoy it even before this.

 

[ronparise]

I think Dave has it right, it's a power play, it always is

That or age discrimination. My brother worked for a major company He made pretty good money and some great retirement benefits coming to him if he could make it to 30 years. They made his last 5 miserable. He thinks it was done to make him quit or to manufacture a reason to fire him. They could hire two guys for what they paid him and they wouldn't have to pay those retirement benefits. He stuck it out and is happily retired now

I tell this story to encourage you to not act rashly. Figure out what they have to gain and what you might lose if you quit.

 

[elaine]

Sounds like someone complained or something hit the fan while you were gone. Do you check in while on vacation? Access your emails, etc.? That is somewhat expected now days. Do you want to keep your job? If so, I would politely let your big boss know that Mr. X questioned you about vacation, and that although you have made your non-cancelable reservation for the next year, you are willing to only take 1 week at a time the following year, "if it is in the best interest of the company...." That's 2018, and they might have forgotten about it by then, or the mid-boss might be gone. Worst case, you will need to trade or internally exchange the other week for that year, or give it to a friend to use, etc. I would also offer to check in by phone, email, etc. "to stay on top of things while away."
At 60+, it might be hard to find another job. In an "at will" state, your post could be downsized, eliminated, merged, etc. Sure you could contest and fight it--but it's pretty hard and probably a lot more hassle than forgoing your 2nd week almost 2 years away.

 

[sue1947]

I'd have a calm conversation with the boss to find out his reasons. It may not be the 2 weeks, but rather the 4 weeks you took in 2 months. You took off Memorial Day week and the following week, so early June and then 2 weeks in late July. Maybe the timing was too much too soon. There might be a solution here that allows the 2 weeks in July with the rest of your vacation spread out more. Is Mem Day to Labor Day a busy time in your business? Are sales down or pressure up etc. Are there a lot of people in the office who want those same summer weeks off and they want to make sure somebody is around? Have that conversation with him to see if there is a reasonable solution. Maybe the other 2 week can be taken at a time when others in the office aren't competing for the same week off.

Then you can make the decision on whether it's a power play or age discrimination and whether you want to quit in July or not. I retired early at 53 because the workplace had become so negative. I'd rather live on less than live like that and it has worked out well for me. However, you have to look at your own situation and what you can afford both financially and mentally.

Two years before I quit/retired, they started layoffs and I started living like I was retired; I called it thrifty mode. I have always been thrifty, but I really looked at everything with an eye towards need vs want. I managed to save a lot of money during that time which helped when I finally pulled the plug. I know you have spent a lot of time in the past year or so analyzing finances etc so you might already be doing this. It will help give you the freedom to choose later.

 

[alwysonvac]

So then he proceeds to tell me I can no longer take back to back vacations. I was stunned and didn't ask why. I wish I had. But I did tell him I own 2 weeks back to back timeshares in the summer and that the bigger boss knows about it and I cannot change it. That is always when I take vacation and now it is 2 weeks instead of one. He said he will have to see next year and he will have to talk to the bigger boss about it.

By the way, I have always been well- liked by my boss and the bigger boss and coworkers- I know- not that that means anything. My salary and many others' have been capped for years- so no raises or reviews even.

I would play dumb and mention it in passing to the bigger boss.

Some examples:
Say something joking like "I hope you approve my two week time off next year. xxx tells me we can't take back to back weeks off and that he needs to talk with you about it. I'm really looking forward to using my 2nd timeshare week for back to back stays )) "

Or ask it as a question "xxx just told me that I can't take back to back weeks off. When does that policy become effective. I was really looking forward to using my back to back summer timeshare weeks () "