A woman got her vacation approved weeks in advance, with written confirmation from both HR and her manager. Then her boss scheduled two mandatory team meetings right in the middle of her time off.
When she said she wouldn’t be joining, he told her the meetings were critical and she’d need to log in remotely. He also hinted that refusing could hurt her next performance review.
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Time Off Approved in Writing
She requested her vacation well ahead of time and did everything right. She double-checked with HR and her manager and got the approval in writing.
The trip was planned months in advance. She’d been counting on it as a real break from work.
Two Meetings in the Middle of Vacation
Recently, her boss added two mandatory team meetings during her approved time off. Both fall right in the middle of her trip.
She told him she wouldn’t attend. Her plan was to fully disconnect while she was away.
Log In Remotely
Her boss said the meetings were too important to miss. He insisted she log in remotely.
He also told her that everyone makes sacrifices for the team. To him, giving up part of her vacation was simply part of the job.
Everyone Sacrifices
She explained that paid time off means disconnecting from work. She’d planned the trip months ago and didn’t want to spend it on calls.
Her boss pulled her aside and told her she wasn’t being a team player. The comment made her feel like setting a boundary was being treated as a problem.
A Warning About Her Review
He also hinted that her refusal could hurt her next performance review. That raised the stakes immediately.
Performance reviews can affect raises, bonuses, and promotions. A negative mark could cost her money over time, not just in the next paycheck but in future earning potential.
A Pattern Coworkers Know Well
Her coworkers told her this happens all the time. Their boss regularly schedules meetings during people’s approved leave.
To them, it’s normal. To her, it feels like approved time off doesn’t really mean much at this company.
Paid Time Off That Isn’t Off
PTO is part of an employee’s compensation. Being expected to work during it can make that benefit feel far less valuable.
Vacations also cost money. Travel, lodging, and activities can easily add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars, and working during the trip can take away from what she paid for.
Trapped Either Way
She feels stuck. If she refuses, she worries about being marked as uncooperative and hurting her review.
If she logs on, her vacation stops being real time off. She’s left wondering whether her boss is allowed to do this, and how to protect her time without putting her career at risk.
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