Vacation issue with boss
I am taking 2 weeks off to climb Kilimanjaro. I told my boss nearly 4 months ago, submitted an official time off request 1.5 months ago (once I got the go ahead from the travel company re: COVID), and sent him a reminder 2 weeks ago.
Two days before I am scheduled to leave, my boss calls me and suggests that I don’t go on the trip. He is acting like I just sprung this on him, and that there MIGHT be some things that I’ll be needed for over those two weeks. I was flabbergasted and basically told him to kick rocks. I also just realized that he never approved my request, but he didn’t deny it either (he just never bothered to open the fucking notification - even after I reminded him 2 weeks ago).
For one, this trip is insanely expensive and will not be able to get any refund at this point. Secondly, I am going with my dad and this is likely the last opportunity I’ll have while he is still in decent enough health/shape.
I believe I did everything right leading up to this (process-wise). Moreover, things are extremely quiet right now and will very likely remain so for the duration of my trip. I strategically planned it for what has historically been the quietest part of the year for us… Ive been a top performer with this team for nearly 5 years now. My boss has been here for 6 months. This is the first time I’ve taken consecutive days off in over 2 years.
I am honestly so heated right now. I will gladly die on this hill if that’s what it comes down to. I am going on this god damn trip. What would you do?
Go. Absolutely. Life is about adventuring outside, not answering to a boss who wouldn’t even given your requests for time off the time of day. Especially since you’re going with your dad.
At the end of the day, while your new boss may think differently of you, the rest of your time likely knows how valuable to the company, and if the worst case scenario happens, you can always go somewhere where your superiors will value you enough to respect your use of vacation.
Enjoy Kenya/Tanzania!
You've been there 5 years. Strong track record, obviously well-liked there. Seems like if you did die on this hill and you did get axed (seems unlikely), explanation to new employers is "I did everything above board -- gave 4 months' advance notice, reminded him two weeks before, scheduled for slow time... it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing with my dad, and while I'm team player and more than willing to change/cancel plans when necessary, if this is the place where I'll have to cancel my first vacation in two years over something that's not essential, maybe I'm not your guy."
You gave extensive notice and have earned every right to go on this trip. You should not cancel based on this nonsense response from your boss. Based on the way that you have described the situation, it seems certain that your reputation at the firm will protect you from any serious consequences.
Even in some hypothetical world where you didn't handle this as well as you did, or if you were a newer employee, I would still tell you to go. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You will always have this memory with your dad. Otherwise, you will remember the time that you sat around for two weeks with your thumb up your ass waiting for work that could have been handled by other people anyway.
As a person who has lost one parent, you may never get this again.
I would not. Work is very important and should always take priority over some trip - otherwise your bonus will get dinged
Take one of those purple bananas in your name and insert it into your already clearly overly tight ass hole please