If your work is not approving your request for PTO for an emergency leave, what would you do?

Question

The days are getting closer, and the flights are already booked.

ObscuredBeyond · Accepted Answer

If it's bereavement or what-not, and you've been there well past 90 days of employment, and given plenty of advance notice something bad might happen soon, and it does, then they are almost obligated by law to give you the time off.

If they won't, then there's something seriously wrong with that employer. I'd negotiate to keep my job after-the-fact, assuming I didn't miss too much work. But if they're gonna fire, let them fire. They'll be the ones that look bad.

I know my sister had a need for emergency time off once, and Wendy's denied her. So she straight-up quit. On top of that, they were cheating her out of benefits. That, in spite the fact that she was one of their most loyal employees at that store in the Villages. They had a near-impossible time hiring anyone to that Wendy's that actually bothered to show up for work. She was the exception. Then, when she needed their help, they wouldn't let her have any.

So she showed them the door, and she's now working at a McDonald's. She's too much a L'Obez to go to college, so she's had to get smart with the fast food business to survive. College degree jobs are not in her future. She'll be lucky to get a driver's license, given she's half-blind in one eye.

JamesDiaz11 · Accepted Answer

It depends on what you mean by emergency, what the company size is (is it over 50?), and what are the company policies.

Simply "taking leave" without your work approving it is job abandonment, and subject to termination.

I work as an HR consultant if you'd like to run the full scenario by me.

Date_a_Snob · Accepted Answer

I had requested a few days off since I was having emergency surgery to remove my wisdom teeth. My work denied my request. I still took the time off and they didn't fire me when I came back to work. I didn't stick around much longer - I realized I didn't want to work for a company or a boss that would deny my emergency time off request.

designer1 · Accepted Answer

It is what it is. If you have to go, politely remind them that you have to go (both in email and in person) and then do what u have to do. An emergency is an emergency.

abc3643 · Answer

That depends on where you are and the size of the company.

30 years ago in the United States, we passed something called the Family Medical Leave Act.
In fact, that's why I was rather irked with President George H. W. Bush before that. The GOP claimed to be the political party for family values, yet Bush and the GOP did not support the FMLA because they felt it would hurt business. Shows you where their priorities lie. Thus, I voted for Bill Clinton in 1992 even though, in 1991, I was expecting to vote to re-elect Bush. Anyway, Bush lost and Clinton won and one of the first acts of legislation he signed in 1993 was the FMLA.

The FMLA lets an employee take unpaid PTO off for an extended period to care for family members without fear of losing their jobs.

Anyway, that's the USA.

For you, you go regardless of PTO. Claim you are sick those days but do NOT have any social media presence.

qwert1234 · Answer

I request PTO for various reasons, some I just want to take the day off, sometimes to fill a gap between a holiday and a weekend.

If I already have tickets/reservations, I usually request a minimum of a month ahead. I usually tell them that this early, it's no longer a request but more of FYI, I won't be at work.

If the PTO falls on the category of "I just want a day off" - it's fine, if we cannot accommodate then I will go to work.

If it's due to a real emergency, I will take the day off even if the production servers are crashing.

SnowedIn · Answer

I'd never let it get to the day of. Not judging or being self-righteous, but I wouldn't.

I'd work my way up the chain of command and, simultaneously, talk to whoever heads PR and HR. Tell that if it doesn't get approved (assuming this really is a legit emergency like my wife or mother is dying or just died) I'm going on social media and to the news outlets about their heartlessness and I'm going to Tweet about it and do a TikTok about it. It'll be approve in less than two hours.

MrPickles13 · Answer

Well you shouldn't make bookings unless your approved for time off is how I go about it.

If it's a pending request remind them. As sometimes projects do require PTO to not be approved for those dates. Emergency leave is different, the key for my work is speak to manager about what's going on such as family emergency and they will make a decision business wise. If they say no you can go through a few other channels.

Red-Blaze · Answer

Remind them, if they can't decide in time just go its an emergency if they can't accept that then you may bebetter working somewhere else anyway
A work place should look for its employes as employes should look for there work place

JustinTheGreat · Answer

I would go anyway lol Its an emergency, your job should be more understanding

Adam1978 · Answer

I would call in sick, and go anyway. But I never book anything before getting approval that I can go. But if it's a emergency I would go anyway and cover it the best I can.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

I would go anyway. But my definition of emergency might not be the same as others. I never cared about getting fired from a job though. There are always other jobs.

Guardian45 · Answer

Family comes first. Nothing else is as important. If they haven't approved me, then I would go anyway.

Wish4UrB00ty · Answer

I mean I would pester them until they gave it to me or not and then I would let them fire me when I got back.

ChiTown33 · Answer

What's the emergency? When I was younger I put my job over everything. But employers (even good ones) do not give a s*** about you. You're a number plain and simple. They would replace you in a second if it benefitted them. You have to approach everything with them with the same attitude.

I can't answer this question unless it has specifics. Even hypothetical ones.

Sevenpointfive · Answer

call corporate and let them know your situation. HR will allow it if they know. otherwise you're dealing with assholes

Agape93 · Answer

Put in for FMLA. But regardless, keep copies of everything, get everything in writing, and go as planned. If need be, talk to an employment lawyer

genericname85 · Answer

i'd just call in sick an get a doctors attest... fuck them. if they're gonna make a problem from that for you, i'd just quit and look for a better employer.

Guy13 · Answer

Push back with policy quotes until they relent.

exitseven · Answer

I would remind HR to approve it but if they still do not do it I would go anyway and deal with it when I got back.

RavVid · Answer

Not sure what PTO is and how it is an emergency but if there are flights booked I'm going.

shortster · Answer

If you put in for the time off and they haven't rejected it. Then they are tentatively approving it. So you should be able to go without issue. But it is worth reminding them about it beforehand.

Jennz6 · Answer

Tell them that it’s necessary to get off work

najekim · Answer

Let them fire you and then report them to the National Labor Board.

Alex8736 · Answer

if you have the hours it's against the law to deny you pto

TallAnon · Answer

Never resign. Remind them > Do if anyway > If you get fired, you get fired.

Fuentes · Answer

How long is it & I would be sitting in HR's office the whole time til it's done.

EaterPeter · Answer

Is that a job you can afford to loose? Speak with HR.

alice55 · Answer

Don't give a shit and still leave

AngryCarl2 · Answer

Pull a sickie.

Kelly6 · Answer

remind them , and talk to them

Batsy01010101 · Answer

go on your emergency leave fuck them

Jamie05rhs · Answer

I would just quit.

melanieeeB · Answer

Remind them

stratford · Answer

Depends what the emergency is?

NostalgiaSenpi · Answer

Go anyway.

Amur8711 · Answer

Go as planned

If your work is not approving your request for PTO for an emergency leave, what would you do?

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