Boss cancels approved leave and asks employee to work while away, sparking backlash

A boss has been slammed for cancelling an employee's already-approved annual leave and suggesting they could still go away as long as they worked during their trip, a move that has gone viral online and drawn criticism of workplace norms and employee rights.

The staff member reminded their manager that time off had been approved and accommodation was already booked. But instead of honoring the agreement, the boss backtracked, citing the sudden arrival of a new client. "Yes, sorry matey," the boss wrote. "We've had a client sign up at the last minute and I need someone who can take them through onboarding." When the worker pushed back, pointing out their partner had also arranged time off, the manager offered a compromise. "How about this, I will approve your holiday, but you login abroad for the initial onboarding and then I'll get someone else to do the rest?" The employee had little choice but to agree, but the public reaction was swift and loud.

Business commentator Ben Askins criticized the arrangement on TikTok, saying the approach is not acceptable and highlights a larger problem: over-reliance on a single employee. "The idea that you've rejected their holiday leave that you'd already approved, and then the compromise is to give them back their holiday provided they do work on that holiday is just obviously not okay," he said. "The key problem here is that they're too dependent on this one person." He added that businesses cannot rely on one worker to be available at all times and need contingency planning.

Some workers told similar stories online, with anecdotes about managers asking staff to work during time off or begging them to cancel trips. One person said they were asked to come in early or adjust their schedule and another said they would not have complied, choosing to block emails and calls during vacation. The shared sentiment: respect for personal time is essential to preventing burnout and maintaining morale.

In Australia, annual leave is a legal entitlement rather than optional. Employment lawyers say once leave is approved, it cannot simply be withdrawn to cover last-minute business pressures. Experts note that many jurisdictions protect workers' right to take time off and that such moves risk triggering claims of constructive dismissal or breaches of national workplace laws. The incident is viewed by observers as part of a broader trend in which some companies expect staff to sacrifice personal time to accommodate client work, raising concerns about retention and mental health.

Labour-market commentators say the case underscores the importance of clear leave policies and cross-training so operations are not dependent on a single staff member. Industry voices urge employers to respect boundaries and to plan around capacity with temporary staff or shifts that accommodate holidays. Advocates say good leave practices support long-term productivity by reducing burnout and turnover.

The Daily Mail Australia coverage described the incident, highlighting how quickly the exchange circulated online and prompted discussions about workplace culture in a digital age.