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Original poster

Manager has refused my time off 'request'

228 replies

MyBossIsAPillock · 19/10/2026 12:17

I emailed him 6 weeks ago to inform him that I won't be in next week and the week after. He's just told me that my request is rejected. He says it's half term so others have already booked the time off and I'm taking the piss even asking seeing as I've barely been in this year.

Things is, the reason I've been off so much is because I've had breast cancer. The reason I won't be in for the next 2 weeks is because I'll be having radiotherapy.

I told him it wasn't a request and that I wouldn't be in. He said that then it'll become a disciplinary matter. Fuckwit. I'm not worried, HR and senior management have been excellent throughout. But what a twattish way to treat someone going through hell.

OP posts:
CoffeeAndCakeBringMeJoy · 20/10/2026 20:07

OP, I have nothing I can add to the fantastic advice of others, but couldn’t leave without wishing you the very best for your treatment. I hope all goes well, and that you take all the time you need, secure in the knowledge that you are absolutely entitled to be absent from work, and that you have the weight of the law behind you.

As for your appalling boss, words fail me. What a truly vile human being.

ThreadGuardDog · 20/10/2026 20:13

AnyoneWhoHasAHeart · 19/10/2026 21:52

no because it’s the same as e.g. taking medical time off for medical appointments.

If you have an illness where you would need to go to hospital appointments then it’s normal practice to advise your manager in advance. Because it’s not sickness per se, it’s medical appointments which is different.

I attend clinics every three months or so following my transplant. In all honesty I often take them as annual leave or swap my days off because it’s a four hour round trip and I then can just go into the hospital, do the appointment, and go home at my own pace, also then it doesn’t go down on my sickness record which is important because if I do end up having time off sick because of infections etc brought about by my being immune suppressed, then I know this is taken into account.

But i the event I can’t do one of the above then I get a medical appointment, and that’s not classed in the same way as a day’s sick leave.

Show quote history

None of your time off which is directly related to your condition should be counted towards disciplinary action for sickness absence. Disability is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act and you are entitled to time off in relation to it. The employer has no obligation to pay you beyond what would be normal for sickness absence but they cannot prevent you from attending your appointments as necessary.

thinkfast · 22/10/2026 16:43

Am I reading this correctly OP? Your boss is basically trying to deny you life saving treatment ie literally asking you to give your life up for work?

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