04-10-2025
Reddit is used by many employees to anonymously share job struggles, office experiences, and workplace issues. One recent thread involved a user who expressed frustration after her boss pushed back on the amount of leave she took. The user, SML, said she took 11 days of annual leave by March 2025, which was not unusual. Her new boss responded that she did not appreciate how much time SML took off. The boss approved it but warned that they would discuss the amount when SML returned. When SML said it was a typical amount, the boss asked how much paid time off SML had. The company provides 31 days for everyone, and SML had three extra days under contract and four days carried over from the prior year. She laid out her plan for the 27 days she had left for 2025 to her boss.
The Boss challenged the number as “excessive” and referred the matter to HR. SML reached out to HR. SML said that HR told her to enjoy her time off. In the UK, most workers receive at least 28 days of paid annual leave, including bank holidays. This equals approximately 5.6 weeks of vacation. According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, the United States is the only developed country with no statutory paid leave (Iran offers the most paid public holidays and vacation days). SML asserted that her boss does not understand employee rights. A fellow employee told SML the boss referred another employee to HR because she wanted a 52-week maternity leave, which is expected in Britain. HR backed the pregnant employee on that issue as well.