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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to be sick of my manager continuing to pester me about taking holidays?

61 replies

LeaderBee · 05/06/2026 11:10

Normally wouldn't be so much of an issue but i'm planning on getting a pet but the breeders will only have them available at specific times of the year and is dependent on when mum is pregnant, gives birth and then an 8 week waiting time to release them to me.

Manager is pestering me to take holidays "around the time" that it MAY be available, but until the breeder gets in touch with me to confirm babies have even been born, I can't really commit to a date.

If i book the time off and it lines up, fine, but if it doesn't then i've used holiday i didn't need to take, then, because someone else has holiday planned, I wouldn't be able to book time off again until much later in the month, meaning i wouldn't be able to pick them up for a further 2-3 weeks after they were initially available.

It's really beginning to bug me because I feel like i'm being pressured to take holidays that might not line up with when I need to take time off to take care and bond with a new animal.

OP posts:
pinkyredrose · 06/06/2026 20:10

YABU not to get a rescue.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 06/06/2026 20:03

we are all assuming it’s a cat or dog. In that case, 9 weeks gestation followed by 8 weeks until can come home with OP. So if the mother was getting pregnant now, the OP would be looking to bring her new pet home first week of October. Fine. Except if the dog/cat takes another one to two weeks to get pregnant, the OP would be looking to take time off over the end of October, start of November. Which is school holidays and if she’s likely to want those dates, 8 weeks might not be enough time to be the first to book in.

Similarly if the cat/dog is already pregnant and there’s a chance the OP might need time off over the school summer holidays, this needs booking asap. Also if she works with lots of people who have dcs first starting school, early to mid September might be hard to get if you don’t book it asap.

OP - how easy is it to change leave dates at your work? If they are flexible with changing leave and there’s a chance you might need time off that covers the October half term or summer holidays, book it now and then change it later once dates are confirmed. I think at most work places, it would be easier to book off October half term then change to the week before than leaving it until the last minute and trying to get those dates.

L1ttledrummergirl · 06/06/2026 18:22

What does your company policy say about booking leave? Follow it's instructions around booking leave.

Isittimeformynapyet · 06/06/2026 18:20

VividDeer · 06/06/2026 18:13

Surely your breeder knows the due date..

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Well they would, if the animal was already pregnant. Bit trickier otherwise.

thecatneuterer · 06/06/2026 18:17

I think you're being unreasonable just because you are buying whatever the pet is from a breeder. I can't think of many pets where "adopt, don't shop" doesn't apply.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 06/06/2026 18:16

Well yes but is the mother currently pregnant? If so, when are you thinking you’ll need to take your leave? Because if it’s likely to mean the time off you want is during school holidays, if you don’t book it now you’ll probably be turned down.

can you not book the time now then change the dates when you’ve got 8 weeks notice?

VividDeer · 06/06/2026 18:13

LeaderBee · 06/06/2026 18:09

thats it, all i need is confirmation that its been born because then I can plan my leave around the usual 8 weeks release date.

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Surely your breeder knows the due date..

clickypen · 06/06/2026 18:11

LeaderBee · 06/06/2026 18:09

thats it, all i need is confirmation that its been born because then I can plan my leave around the usual 8 weeks release date.

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Indeed. But in the meantime if others get in and book that time off first what do you expect your manager to do about it?

Original poster
LeaderBee · 06/06/2026 18:10

XMissPlacedX · 05/06/2026 15:27

You sound like an irresponsible, clueless princess

bit extreme from just one post, dont you think?

OP posts:
Original poster
LeaderBee · 06/06/2026 18:09

MayaLui · 05/06/2026 14:12

She'll have 8 weeks notice surely when the puppy is born? Typically notice is double the length of the leave, which I think is reasonable.

So I'd say your manager is bu unless your company's policy is stricter than this.

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thats it, all i need is confirmation that its been born because then I can plan my leave around the usual 8 weeks release date.

OP posts:
Arlanymor · 05/06/2026 16:59

How annoying that they want notice to cover your work.

NightText · 05/06/2026 16:48

They're trying to plan cover & giving you first dibs.

If you don't get a move on, the weeks will be booked by other people and you'll have no leave with your new pet.

rwalker · 05/06/2026 16:41

MayaLui · 05/06/2026 14:12

She'll have 8 weeks notice surely when the puppy is born? Typically notice is double the length of the leave, which I think is reasonable.

So I'd say your manager is bu unless your company's policy is stricter than this.

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Authorising leave isn’t just about how much notice you give if someone’s got there first then it would be a no

Civilsociety · 05/06/2026 16:40

Your manager can turn down any leave requests if it doesn’t suit the business. It is very common for leave to be refused in my line of work, even six months ahead or longer.

Coconutter24 · 05/06/2026 16:38

Credittocress · 05/06/2026 16:07

Has OP said it’s a puppy? Could be a kitten? Or many other things.

Does it really matter what animal it is? The situation is still the same

ConstanzeMozart · 05/06/2026 16:14

Credittocress · 05/06/2026 16:07

Has OP said it’s a puppy? Could be a kitten? Or many other things.

No, but she says, dependent on when mum is pregnant, gives birth and then an 8 week waiting time to release them to me.
I haven't just made up the 8-week waiting time thing.

Credittocress · 05/06/2026 16:07

Has OP said it’s a puppy? Could be a kitten? Or many other things.

ConstanzeMozart · 05/06/2026 15:57

MayaLui · 05/06/2026 14:12

She'll have 8 weeks notice surely when the puppy is born? Typically notice is double the length of the leave, which I think is reasonable.

So I'd say your manager is bu unless your company's policy is stricter than this.

Show quote history

She'll have 8 weeks notice surely when the puppy is born? Typically notice is double the length of the leave, which I think is reasonable.
So I'd say your manager is bu unless your company's policy is stricter than this.

I agree with this. Is your manager aware that you'll be able to give eight weeks' notice?

XMissPlacedX · 05/06/2026 15:27

You sound like an irresponsible, clueless princess

ilovesooty · 05/06/2026 14:38

Your manager isn't obligated to approve leave at short notice to accommodate you getting a dog, and s/he has to make sure that staff leave is managed effectively.

Sixpence39 · 05/06/2026 14:32

justasking111 · 05/06/2026 14:16

What the heck are you going to do with this puppy after two weeks of lurve, go back to work full time?

Really hoping they've got a good day care lined up! Heard so many stories of puppies being torn away from their mum and siblings only to spend hours a day completely on their own.

FancyBiscuitsLevel · 05/06/2026 14:31

YABU - if you’ve got a rough idea due to the animal being pregnant, then book your leave with a note you might need to change this with 8 weeks notice, forward or back a week.

if you just leave it, you run the risk of your boss not being able to approve it at all. If you’ve got the bulk of the time sorted, then you can at least just see if you can get flexibility for a few days.

Viviennemary · 05/06/2026 14:29

I think its totally bonkers to think a business can work around an employee's dog that they haven't even got yet. YABU.

gamerchick · 05/06/2026 14:27

8 weeks is a bit young to get a puppy anyway. A few weeks later would be better

Monty36 · 05/06/2026 14:24

Can you not book it off provisionally ?

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