4 weeks ago 4 weeks ago

“Blowing Up My Phone”: Manager Tells Employee To Take Time Off, Freaks Out After He Does

For every workplace that genuinely respects work-life balance, there’s always another that treats it like a fantasy.

This Redditor ended up with a manager who belonged in the latter category. After working an entire weekend to fix an urgent issue, he asked for two extra days off as compensation. Instead, his boss told him to just leave early every Friday. So he did—exactly as instructed—and that’s when the trouble started.

What happened next was an awkward HR meeting that didn’t play out the way the manager expected. Read the full story below.

The manager told the employee to leave early on Fridays to make up for the weekend he worked

Manager expressing frustration to employee taking time off during a tense office conversation with coffee cups on the table.

Image credits: katemangostar (not the actual image)

But when he actually did it, the boss wasn’t happy at all

Manager lets employee take time off but reacts unexpectedly when the employee actually takes the time off as told.

Text screenshot showing a manager letting an employee take time off and the employee explaining their PTO arrangement with HR.

Text from a manager letting employee end early every Friday until leave, then employee follows through exactly.

Employee walking away from office building holding briefcase, illustrating manager letting employee take time off.

Image credits: rawpixel.com (not the actual image)

Text excerpt about manager letting employee take time off but getting upset when employee actually does, discussing work ending early on Fridays.

Text on a white background about a manager letting employee take time off and the employee ignoring calls while playing with son.

Text message update describing fallout after a manager lets employee take time off and then freaks out when he actually does.

Text excerpt discussing a manager letting employee take time off and surprising reaction when employee actually does.

Text message showing a manager letting employee take time off but reacting with shock when the employee actually does.

Manager and employee in office, manager frustrated as employee takes time off, expressing shock and disbelief.

Image credits: Ambreen (not the actual image)

Text excerpt about an employee discussing time off and a manager reacting, highlighting manager lets employee take time off.

Text showing details about employee time off policy with manager letting employee take time off and reacting unexpectedly.

Text showing an employee explaining how they will take 1.25 days off over upcoming Fridays and a Monday after a meeting.

Image credits: Careless-Cat3327

Readers called out the manager’s behavior as completely unprofessional

At the same time, many were impressed with how HR handled the situation

Others chimed in with similar stories

Thanks! Check out the results:

Total votes ·

blowing, employee, freaks, manager, Phone, tells, Time

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