Do you have to tell your employer what you will be dong on your paid vacation?
By Virgie60
@Virgie60 (556)
United States
October 17, 2011 8:24pm CST
My husband has a new shop foreman that is really causing problems. What we are wondering is if my husband has written down for a day off (using one of his paid vacation days) does he have to tell the foreman what he will be doing? This foreman wants to know what you will be doing and I always thought that legally you don't have to tell them. He wanted to use a whole vacation day because he had a dental appointment (a couple of hours away and then would do other errands) but instead of taking the whole day he ended up doing the employer a favor by working until 11:30. The foreman didn't like that he left 1/2 hour early (even though he asked for the whole day off) and then he expected my husband to come back to work at 4:00 because he thought his dental appointment should be done by then. Does my husband even have to tell this jerk why he wants a vacation day? My husband has worked at this place for the last 32 years and puts in almost 60 hours of work a week and never had a problem until now. This new shop foreman is being such a jerk. I think the power is going to his head.
So anyway legally do you have to tell them what you will be doing on a paid vacation day?
Thanks.
3 people like this
9 responses
@bhonti (1246)
• Philippines
18 Oct 11
not really, you have the right not to tell your boss specially if the reason is very very personal.
But It is recommended that you leave your contact number so they will be able to contact you if problem arises that will be needing your assistance. A project detail that only you knows for example.
In our company, we have this web based Vacation leave application wherein a short detail for the reason of leave must be filled-up. They are not requiring you a detailed input, just a quick info is enough, and a contact number of course.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157907)
• United States
19 Oct 11
I did have a job where sick leave was different from paid time off, and we had to get paid time off approved in advance, but that was a staffing issue and needing to have a minimum number of adults in a ratio to children. It sounds like they are really overstepping their bounds if they try to tell him what vehicle he can use. What would they say if that was the only way he could get to work?
@Virgie60 (556)
• United States
18 Oct 11
My husband has a work cell phone that he carries. Sometimes he will answer it (if it is the busy season for example) but other times if he is 500 miles away enjoying himself he won't.
I know where I work I have to mark either vacation, medical, or other. This summer my niece got married on a day I had to work so in the other I said "niece getting married" and that was good enough.
This foreman is being a really hard nose.
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
18 Oct 11
No I don't think it is required for anyone to have to explain what one is doing with a personal and or vacation paid day. If the day off is approved with advance notice, I don't see why anyone should really care what one does on their day off, paid or not.
I mean once one says I am requesting vacation, unless one has a friendly relationship with their boss I don't see why one needs to give specifics. Unless of course it is an emergency and the company is being put in a bind short of help for the day.
I mean even saying it is a personal medical emergency that cannot wait should be enough.
@Virgie60 (556)
• United States
18 Oct 11
I agree that they should not care what he does on his day off. But they told him if they find out that he is riding his motorcycle on a day that he asks off then they will write him up. And this last time he had off for the dentist he took the van because it was too cold but even if he drove his cycle to the dentist why should they care. Whatever mode of transportation he uses should be up to him (and possibly me if I was going with). And the dentist called and moved up his appointment an hour earlier so he could not help that. The foreman really is letting the power of this job get to him.
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
18 Oct 11
Oh my Virgie there is something not quite right going on there. You right what difference does it make what mode of transportation he would be taking if he is on a deserved day off. Do make sure your husband is taking notes of what is going on with date and time as it sounds like this person could at some point jeopardize your husband job. My prayers dear and hope that things do not get worse. 
1 person likes this
@Virgie60 (556)
• United States
18 Oct 11
Thank you for the prayers. Today he actually is supposed to meet with the foreman & bosses because of the leaving 1/2 hour early on what was to be his scheduled vacation day. Even though he was being a team player and helping out by working until noon. The foreman wants to write him up about this. And after getting written up 3 times you are out the door. My husband has never, ever been written up about anything. And he has been there 32 years!! If he gets written up about this then something is very, very wrong.
I'll keep you posted.
1 person likes this
@ram_cv (16513)
• India
18 Oct 11
That is real crazy. I mean I have a great rapport with my manager. So when I go out I do tell him usually why I am taking a leave. But if I chose, I could just say that I am taking a vacation or am taking a leave for personal reasons. My manager cannot ask me anything further on that if I chose to.
Having said that I also leave my contact number with my manager just in case there is anything urgent that needs my inputs. But our tacit arrangement is that I do not call during his vacation and he does not call during mine. :)
Cheers!
Ram
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
18 Oct 11
No, you don't have to explain or let them know what you're going to do on your vacation or leave. The moment the vacation leave has been signed, I would turn off my phone and not show up until the day that my vacation ends. I know of a lot of friends who do that as well.
The foreman is just a jerk. A day off or leave is a day-leave, I think your husband should not tolerate that. Next time just let him say "a family thing" or something broad, and when the foreman asks specifically, then say "it's a private matter" end the discussion and leave.
Have a great MyLot experience ahead!
@Virgie60 (556)
• United States
18 Oct 11
Thank you. This is what I was thinking but wanted to know if I was on the right track or not. When I have to request Time Off there are certain things to check off such as vacation, medical, other. But then I do not get paid time off so that is a little bit different than my husband.
I know of people that do not answer the phone too. And if you ask me that is how it should be!!!
@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
18 Oct 11
No, you don't have to tell them what you are going to do on your VL. You simply have to say, attend to an important matter.
Maybe it just so happened that a work is being rushed , so the foreman is anxious for your husband to still go back. But since it's a really important thing to do, if the teeth is already bothering your husband, then the foreman should approve that VL right away.
@Virgie60 (556)
• United States
18 Oct 11
My husband had 6 teeth and a tumor in his jaw cut out at the end of April. And the dentist is continuing to follow up because the bone in his jaw where the tumor was at was very thin and could literally crumble if husband chewed anything too hard. So he needs continued care and had this appointment marked down that he wanted off 2 months ago. Dentist office is also 1 1/2 hour away from husbands work so not so simple to just go to the appointment and come back. And husband wanted to do other things while he was in town to make the trip more worth the cost of gas to go there. We live in a very small town so when we go someplace we usually have a list of errands.
I think the foreman just wants to show who is boss.
@joshua_zhou (3)
•
18 Oct 11
When I'm asking a leave, I will tell the boss the reason, but not the details. And when I'm on vacation, my phone is always on line. I think we shouldn't effect the project(or other partner's work) for our absence!
@Virgie60 (556)
• United States
18 Oct 11
Hubby has the work phone along most of the time. Unless he is going on vacation in another state because he probably wouldn't be able to help them that much over the phone anyway. And when he is driving motorcycle all day he wouldn't hear the phone ring. Otherwise he taken calls on Sundays, night time, you name it. He is dedicated to his job otherwise he wouldn't still be there after 32 years! I personally don't know how he has done it all these years.
@joshua_zhou (3)
•
19 Oct 11
Ha ,ha, I think it's too hard to divide the job from our priviate life.We can also get fun from our job. That's a wondful feeling for me. They call me ,because they need me. So all the time, I'm especailly satisfied to enjoy my job. Maybe your hasband have that feeling too.
@GardenGerty (157907)
• United States
19 Oct 11
I think you only would be expected to tell about it if it was company policy and you signed a paper acknowledging that. The only jobs I can think of where that might be critically important would be like paramedics and other emergency personnel. That paid vacation day belongs to your husband and he should not have to tell anyone about it. He needs to talk to HR regarding this matter. Not in a way that looks like he is complaining, but just sort of asking "Do I need to let you know what I am doing?" I think the new foreman is acting in a harassing or discriminatory manner. Could be setting the company up for a lawsuit.
@tessa9 (1085)
• Philippines
18 Oct 11
I work as a freelance stylist but I also have a regular job and I was never told that I should tell my employer where and how will I be spending my paid vacation but I still I tell him upfront what I am doing but I don't go into details. I will just say that I will go to Australia to visit my aunt and no more.
@Virgie60 (556)
• United States
18 Oct 11
One of the big problems is because of my husband's hobby - riding motorcycle. They don't like that hobby. If he fished, hunted, or snowmobiled that would be OK. They think he rides his motorcycle too much (and why they should care is beyond me). And often he will ride the motorcycle to his medical appointments as it does save on gas but then they think he is just joy riding and not taking the day off for his appointments. But I still think he should be able to do whatever the heck he wants on HIS vacation days. He earned them!
1 person likes this
@stary1 (6612)
• United States
18 Oct 11
Yikes..this is sad. Your husband worked there for 32 years and now some litle jerk is treating him with such lack of respect. I'd be po'd. Problem is the new foreman might be able to make his life miserable and while it's great to stand up for rights, sometime we all have to just put up with jerks to survive.
@Virgie60 (556)
• United States
18 Oct 11
I agree it is sad! My husband has always put in 110% for his job and it means nothing to them. When our son had major surgery (& I also had both arms in casts at the same time) my husband only took off 2 days of work. Even though son was in the hospital for 12 days(11 recovery 1 for tests). He could have asked for more but felt that he should be at his job. I wish they wouldn't treat his so lousy.
