Did This Employer Have the Right to Revoke Vacation Plans Due to Unexpected Staffing Changes?

Michael Sanz, who goes by @thoutsourcingexpert on Tiktok, recently started an online conversation after he uploaded an exchange between a boss and an employee. In the messages, the boss tries to cancel an employee’s planned leave in response to another employee suddenly quitting their position.

One employee, identified as Noel, had a conversation with their boss who was identified as Nick. Nick informed Noel how his fellow co-worker, Jenny, had quit the company and that desperate measures needed to take place.

What Nick was asking Noel seemed unreasonable. This trip had already been approved beforehand and canceling it is no easy task.

Nick took it upon himself before ever reaching out to Noel to change the trip for him. In his text conversation, he tells Noel, “We can push back a few months.” (via @theoutsourcingexpert on Tiktok)

Reacting to Nick’s initial message in his TikTok video, Sanz calls out the unreasonable attitude on display. “This guy sounds like a tool. He’s automatically cancelling leave without any conversation,” he said. (via @theoutsourcingexpert on Tiktok)

While many people might fire back at their boss in anger, Noel preferred a courteous approach. He reasonably responded to his boss while throwing the “totally appreciate” line at him in a subtle jab.

Noel had quite the trip planned and wasn’t going to let it be canceled without a fight.

Despite being subject to an unreasonable demand from his boss, Noel attempted to help find a compromise without losing his cool. One would hope that the boss would be able to swallow his pride and come to a fair solution that works for everyone.

If you thought his boss was being unreasonable so far, you won’t believe the next thing he says. In a reply to Noel, Nick attempts his own “compromise” by telling him he needs to reduce his vacation from three weeks to just three days.

Noel, in a solid move, puts his foot down at his boss’ request. Instead of caving to his time demands, he makes it clear he’s going on this trip and he won’t be shortening it one bit.

After a curt response from his boss, Noel messaged Nick back, telling him he’s just going to take his leave early, starting right now.

Michael Sanz is an expert on outsourcing and virtual assistants who regularly posts reactions and advice for people navigating the workplace. His tips are often for entrepreneurs, business owners, and managers who want to leverage virtual assistants or temp workers to their fullest.