In an era where workplace boundaries are being redrawn, one boss just became the poster child for everything wrong with toxic management. A viral Instagram post by UK-based workplace advocate Ben Askins has reignited the debate on employee rights, after it exposed a manager’s brazen attempt to cancel an employee’s pre-approved day off—and punish her financially for saying no.
It all began with a seemingly casual message: “Hey, Jasper won’t be coming in today so I’ll need you to handle the presentation.” The employee, calmly reminding her boss that she had planned the day with her children and had received leave approval weeks in advance, declined.
But what should have ended there quickly spiraled into an appalling display of power play and entitlement.
“It wasn’t really a request” — The Message That Set Off a Firestorm
The boss, unnamed in the screenshots, replied with a line that immediately sent the internet into uproar: “It wasn’t really a request TBH. I need you in by 11am.”
With professional poise, the employee pushed back again, highlighting her overtime in recent weeks and reiterating her right to take the day off. But instead of backing down, the boss turned confrontational—asserting, “I can revoke your day off and expect you at 11.”
If that wasn’t enough, he then played the ultimate guilt card: “We will have a conversation about our commitment when you’re in today. If you’re not here, it is coming out of your bonus.”
A Bonus Held Hostage—and the Internet Was Having None of It
Askins’ followers—many of whom know what it’s like to deal with overreaching bosses—immediately rallied behind the employee. The post has since gone viral under Askins’ “ Worst Boss Ever” series, gathering thousands of comments from stunned users.
One person summed up the situation with legal clarity: “I’m glad we have all of this in writing, as you’ll be hearing from HR—and possibly an employment lawyer.”
Another commented, “If you are off and see a text from your boss, ignore it like your life depends on it. There you go. Fixed your problems.”
Others focused on the importance of enforcing personal boundaries. “Never explain why. Just say, ‘I’m on time off.’ Don’t give them ammunition for guilt-tripping. Time off is time off.”
Who’s Really Not Showing Up?
The irony that Jasper—whose emergency absence caused the uproar—was apparently attending a “client meeting” wasn’t lost on anyone. “How is it that the presentation was so critical that the employee had to cancel family plans, but not important enough for the original presenter to rearrange their schedule?” one user asked.
In the now-viral video, Askins himself points out the absurdity: “If Jasper can’t do the presentation because he’s in an ‘emergency’ client meeting, why wasn’t that handled beforehand? Why is this suddenly someone else’s problem—on their approved day off?”
The Bigger Conversation: Time Off Isn’t Optional
What makes this incident hit such a nerve is that it’s not isolated. Many employees have experienced similar moments—when their commitment is questioned simply because they chose to rest, recharge, or honor personal time. This exchange throws into stark relief a troubling reality: in many workplaces, time off is still seen as negotiable, rather than a basic right.
The idea that a boss can threaten bonuses, cancel approved leave at will, or question loyalty over a single missed day has sparked a broader conversation about workplace ethics—and it’s clear where public sentiment lies.
This isn’t just a bad boss moment—it’s a snapshot of a cultural shift in progress. Workers are no longer willing to play along with outdated power dynamics where rest is penalized and boundaries are ignored. Whether it's a holiday with the kids or simply a mental health reset, the message is loud and clear: your time off is not up for debate.
And if you’re a manager who thinks otherwise—be warned. The internet is watching.
It all began with a seemingly casual message: “Hey, Jasper won’t be coming in today so I’ll need you to handle the presentation.” The employee, calmly reminding her boss that she had planned the day with her children and had received leave approval weeks in advance, declined.
But what should have ended there quickly spiraled into an appalling display of power play and entitlement.
“It wasn’t really a request” — The Message That Set Off a Firestorm
The boss, unnamed in the screenshots, replied with a line that immediately sent the internet into uproar: “It wasn’t really a request TBH. I need you in by 11am.”
With professional poise, the employee pushed back again, highlighting her overtime in recent weeks and reiterating her right to take the day off. But instead of backing down, the boss turned confrontational—asserting, “I can revoke your day off and expect you at 11.”
If that wasn’t enough, he then played the ultimate guilt card: “We will have a conversation about our commitment when you’re in today. If you’re not here, it is coming out of your bonus.”
A Bonus Held Hostage—and the Internet Was Having None of It
Askins’ followers—many of whom know what it’s like to deal with overreaching bosses—immediately rallied behind the employee. The post has since gone viral under Askins’ “ Worst Boss Ever” series, gathering thousands of comments from stunned users.
One person summed up the situation with legal clarity: “I’m glad we have all of this in writing, as you’ll be hearing from HR—and possibly an employment lawyer.”
Another commented, “If you are off and see a text from your boss, ignore it like your life depends on it. There you go. Fixed your problems.”
Others focused on the importance of enforcing personal boundaries. “Never explain why. Just say, ‘I’m on time off.’ Don’t give them ammunition for guilt-tripping. Time off is time off.”
Who’s Really Not Showing Up?
The irony that Jasper—whose emergency absence caused the uproar—was apparently attending a “client meeting” wasn’t lost on anyone. “How is it that the presentation was so critical that the employee had to cancel family plans, but not important enough for the original presenter to rearrange their schedule?” one user asked.
In the now-viral video, Askins himself points out the absurdity: “If Jasper can’t do the presentation because he’s in an ‘emergency’ client meeting, why wasn’t that handled beforehand? Why is this suddenly someone else’s problem—on their approved day off?”
The Bigger Conversation: Time Off Isn’t Optional
What makes this incident hit such a nerve is that it’s not isolated. Many employees have experienced similar moments—when their commitment is questioned simply because they chose to rest, recharge, or honor personal time. This exchange throws into stark relief a troubling reality: in many workplaces, time off is still seen as negotiable, rather than a basic right.
The idea that a boss can threaten bonuses, cancel approved leave at will, or question loyalty over a single missed day has sparked a broader conversation about workplace ethics—and it’s clear where public sentiment lies.
This isn’t just a bad boss moment—it’s a snapshot of a cultural shift in progress. Workers are no longer willing to play along with outdated power dynamics where rest is penalized and boundaries are ignored. Whether it's a holiday with the kids or simply a mental health reset, the message is loud and clear: your time off is not up for debate.
And if you’re a manager who thinks otherwise—be warned. The internet is watching.
You may also like
Wild card entry: 'Well behaved' rhino crashes Nepali wedding, internet grunts - watch video
Hugh Jackman's ex-wife Deborra-Lee Furness breaks silence on 'betrayal'
Love Island's Ekin-Su and Curtis Pritchard split just months after All Stars in awkward statement
Indian stock market ends lower, FMCG stocks drag
EE pays broadband shoppers £300 to switch but we found a rival deal - check your postcode
