
What happens when your boss thinks your paid leave is ‘too much’—even when it’s perfectly legal?
A Reddit user recently shared a frustrating experience with their new boss, who reported them to HR for taking “too much” paid time off (PTO).
The employee had used 11 days of annual leave—a practice they followed the previous year without issues. However, their new boss wasn’t happy and escalated the matter to HR.

When the employee explained that their leave included 31 standard days, three extra negotiated days, and four carried over from last year, HR was unimpressed—with one representative even joking, “Enjoy the week off. Wish I had a boss who’d give me free holiday like that.”
The situation took a stranger turn when colleagues revealed the boss had also reported another employee for planning to take her full 52-week maternity leave. HR’s response? “Hope she’s good to go, see you in a year. Bring baby photos.”
The employee later confirmed the boss was based in the U.S., while the team operated under UK employment laws. This cultural mismatch led to tension over employee rights, sparking a heated discussion online.
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