One additional data point - one red flag for a manager is if they are always-on during vacation. I can _somewhat_ understand them reading emails and the occasional reply at a set point in the day, but some are just… unable or unwilling to unplug.

If you need to bring your laptop on your vacation, either he needs you far too much to PIP you, or he's an asshole and you're better off elsewhere

Lol please put in for your PTO and stand 10 toes on it. He is your manager, not your owner. He keeps doing this because he sees that it works. You need to stand up to him. He probably won't PIP you, but if he does, deal with that when you get to it. Instead of grinding yourself to death for something that probably will not happen.

Take the PTO, make your manager do the work for get you fired if they are so petty. Then you can take the severance too. There is never a good time for anyone to take PTO - something always comes up.

This is super inappropriate behavior from your manager and you shouldn’t allow them to stop from taking time off. First, instead of quitting you should explore if you can switch to a different team in the company; unless the entire company is toxic. Second, you should set clear WLB boundaries. You will be taking the PTO time you’ve earned and you will NOT be taking your laptop or responding to messages. Third, you should make it clear to your manager that you’re burnt out and pushing you to continue working will only degrade the quality of your work. In terms of timing there’s literally ALWAYS work to be done. Aside from the courtesy of not taking time off during a major release or planning, you just need to give a reasonable heads up. Finally, if you’re considering to quit, I’d straight up ask your manager what they’re hoping to accomplish by guilt tripping you from taking PTO. If you have nothing left to lose might as well call them out and maybe even get a severance package from HR.

When your boss asks for you to work while on vacation/ PTO let them know that you’ll remove the hours that you’re looking at emails/ working if that’s absolutely necessary. Then do the least amount of work during that time while relaxing next to a pool. Opening your laptop for a minute reduces the PTO by 1 hour. Over 2 weeks, peaking at messages everyday gives you 2-3 more days of PTO.l depending on how you play the system. You can get clarification with HR but If they require you to work (document this) and they remove earned benefits (PTO) they are risking getting fined (labor laws) and paying you for hours worked/ reinstating benefits.

You dummy. Take the PTO then take FMLA once you're back and recharge

I’d ask him how bad he needs me to work, and what he’s be willing to do to keep me in the office….then I’d unzip my pants.

U r just a bitch to ur manager which can be played around. U need to flip the switch

1. You are telling him too much information. Just put in your time. Don’t say “Just to step away from the screen” or “take care of your dog”. If he asks you just say “I need to take that amount of time off” 2. “a few days off” and “two weeks off” are different time frames. I would expect a little more questions on that timing when requesting 2 weeks off mainly due to coverage and if others put in their time earlier. Even still you are entitled to take time off especially when you have 5 weeks to burn already!