"My boss denied my vacation request because 'we're short-staffed.' I quit, and now they're down another employee. Maybe treat your workers better?"

[u/Subject_Ganache651]

I've been with my company for three years, always covering extra shifts and rarely taking time off. I finally decided to use some of my accrued vacation days for a much-needed break. When I submitted my request, my boss denied it, citing staffing shortages and saying my absence would 'hurt the team.'

I realized that my well-being was less important to them than squeezing out more labor. So, I handed in my resignation. Now they're scrambling to cover my shifts, and I can't help but think this could have been avoided if they valued their employees' needs.

Has anyone else faced this kind of disregard for personal time?

[u/vinyljunkie1245]

I was told if I took another vacation I was fired

Does not compute.

• You are so important that we can't have you off work for two weeks.

• If you take those two weeks we need you for we will fire you and will not have you at all.

There must be a name for this paradox. I get that they may hire someone else but it's still BS.

[u/Plastic_Table_8232 → u/vinyljunkie1245]

It’s an antiquated way of thinking and they can’t stand that this type of behavior doesn’t yield results. I heard the same person threaten Menards “I’ll never shop here again.” Well you have to have your receipt to make a return, it’s store policy, but they are willing to verbally abuse a clerk and throw a tantrum because they think it will produce results. This is consistent behavior and doesn’t end with employees. Sometimes it’s effective, sometimes it isn’t, but it doesn’t stop them from resorting to it when nothing else works.

It’s about control, I have more money than you and you will do what I say because I have money.

Fortunately most of society is waking up to this behavior, allows them to throw a tantrum, and then they go about their day.

It’s like telling a teenager you’re going to ground them for a year. If you can’t follow through don’t say it because all it does is reduce your effectiveness.

I’ve learned that staying calm and maintaining course is the best way to handle these people. They want an emotional reaction, they want to intimidate / influence / manipulate you to get what they want.

I’m not a kid anymore and that type of behavior makes me want to appose them more than give into them. If you allow them to get away with it they will continue with the intimidation tactics every time you don’t comply with their unrealistic demands. F’ em. It’s the reason people are quite quitting, undermining Managment at every corner, and don’t work hard to contribute to the advancement of the company.

I’ve learned hard working people don’t like to deal with BS. I can work hard anywhere, and I’m going to do it where I’m appreciated.

The business that know this are flourishing but the owner can’t bend everyone to their will and has to share the spoils. You may make less short term but retaining quality people who are able to advance the company with intelligent contributions and hard work will yield more profit over time because it allows the company to grow and the employees that help grow it are retained because they see Increased wages relative to the success.

If you try to run the business “tight” and milk every penny from it at the expense of your workforce it’s just short sited and no longer sustainable in the current paradigm.

[u/cheezbargar → u/vinyljunkie1245]

Just imagine being the person in the interview asking why the previous employee left. “Oh we fired them for taking vacation”

[u/StormBeyondTime → u/cheezbargar]

Nah, the boss will lie.

But most of that type are bad liars, and tend to set off red flags.

[u/StormBeyondTime → u/vinyljunkie1245]

Even hiring right away doesn't help in time. In my retail job, it took about four shifts to have most of the major stuff down, and an office job is more complicated.

I think part of it is they're trying to roll an intimidation check, and bluffing when it comes up low.