Social media users furious over boss' text to employee who was on vacation

A boss has ignited fury amongst social media users after messaging an employee who was enjoying their vacation.

Some bosses are great, meanwhile, others could write a book on how to not interact with their employees.

While having a bad boss can cause a great gossip session, they can also really damage morale around the workplace.

And one time you don't want to hear from them is when you're using your paid time off... Yet some overstep the mark.

Like this example.

The controversy began when workplace expert Ben Askins shared an anonymous text exchange between a boss and an employee.

The boss initiated contact by stating: "Hey just a quick one, can you take a look at the presentation I just sent you, they need tidying up before the pitch tomorrow. Slides 73-78 in particular are the priority."

When the employee did not respond promptly, the boss followed up with: "Did you see this message?"​

The employee, who was on vacation, responded: "I'm on holiday remember? We've just got off the plane and we're on our way to our Airbnb now."

Despite this, the boss persisted, emphasizing the urgency due to a rescheduled meeting: "I know, but this is important, but the meeting has been brought forward, and we need to sort this out."

The employee explained their inability to assist: "I haven't got my laptop with me, and we have plans this evening."

The boss's response was dismissive: "You don't have your laptop? Why on earth not? Can you find somewhere to jump online? It won't take long."

Maintaining their stance, the employee suggested delegating the task to another team member.

The boss countered: "It would take too long to get someone else up to speed. Please. I really need you to do this. We have to win this one!"

Emphasizing the importance of their pre-planned family time, the employee stated: "I booked this week off months ago and I'm with my family. I can't just abandon our plans to go looking for somewhere to work."

The boss retorted: "Right, good to know where your priorities are."

The employee concluded firmly: "Yes it is with my family."

Ben Askins praised the employee's response, highlighting the boss's behavior as unacceptable.

He remarked: "It is just so obviously incorrect."

Askins further criticized the lack of contingency planning: "If you've not arranged that, then that is your fault."

He emphasized the necessity for employees to disconnect during vacations to recharge effectively.

“As a boss you can’t just keep badgering people. I know it is tempting and easy with WhatsApp, but you’re just going to make people leave,” he explained.

He added that employees need time to disconnect in order to actually do good work.

“Terrible from start to finish,” he said.

And the internet agreed - hard.

One person wrote: "1st rule of vacation or any time off: Don't take your work phone; if work has your personal number block or ignore calls."

A second person said: "If the boss knows which slides needs tidying then he should just tidy them himself."

A third added: "These people are too soft! Not only would I not read the messages until I’m back at work, I would’ve blocked them the day I finished anyway."

Featured image credit: Maskot / Getty