Manager has refused my time off 'request'

[MyBossIsAPillock]

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.

I suppose you informed him in advance that you'll need time off supported with a fit note when it happens?

Tell HR then, and let him get bollocked.

I would be telling HR today.

Good luck with the radiotherapy and take care of yourself.

A bit confused OP as you need to provide a sick note not just announce that you won't be in. Best of luck with your treatment.

Of course you tell HR. Let's hope they at least put him in a position where he can't make decisions like that.

Just tell HR. Don't even discuss it with him.

Forward your notification about being off and anything he’s put in writing to HR and say you are now concerned that his attitude is affecting your health further. If he didn’t put it in writing make a file note of the conversation and send that. I would also tell hr that your relationship has broken down because of this and you’d like to move manager. He’s a tribunal waiting to happen.

100%

And from now on, it's all in writing, don't answer the phone to him at all. If he insists on talking at you email him immediately afterwards, or even during, to say "Hi Vicious Bully, just recapping our conversation of (time and date) where I explained to you that I would not/could not ...and you stated..." and so on and so forth.

And cc it upline every time.

Get a sick note. I had 20 sessions of radiotherapy and the oncology nurse offered to sign me off for the whole 4 weeks. As it happens, I worked every morning as my radiotherapy was every afternoon but I work from home and it was my choice.

I had radiotherapy in the mornings (for 4 weeks I think) then went to work afterwards. It wasn't bad at all. Hopefully your radio therapy will be the same. I wasn't forced to though, I did it because I could and didn't want to take the piss.

What an arse, make sure you complain to his manager and HR and good luck with your treatment ❤️

Did you make it clear in your email that you were letting him know this was time off for cancer treatment?

Otherwise, if he thought you were informing him you’d be on holiday rather than asking him for permission for holiday, you can see that his response may be justified. Albeit he’s on thin ice saying you’ve had a lot of time off if this was sickness related.

Maybe just be clear and courteous in your comms in future - you may not want to lose your job and as a manager he’d probably rather have a good communicator who turns up reliably on the team.

Agreed. Pass on his messages to HR and keep them informed.

I do hope you're telling HR...
Best of luck OP with the ongoing treatment, as the expression goes, don't let the bastards grind you down.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I think your relationship has really deteriorated badly as none of this sounds like a productive way to communicate. Can't you just send HR your sick line and be done with it? Your email informing him you'd be off for two weeks isn't really how I'd expect this to be handled at my workplace - I'd provide / expect a sick line for an absence. Which is very much your right to have of course - but you can't just take 2 weeks off without any sort of paperwork?

Your last line is completely out of order and I hope you don’t manage anyone.

Any experienced manager knows that sometimes shit happens and sometimes people get cancer and need to attend treatment. As my own manager said when I needed to arrange leave for a staff member in a similar situation, work is just work and the only place anyone is indispensable is at home.

I really hope you don’t manage anyone.

Why are you requesting leave for treatment? Surely it should be sick leave and you’ll be given a certificate to cover. You’ve just been extra nice giving as much notice as possible

I cannot think of a single reason why you wouldn’t forward / copy it straight to hr and say please advise on how I can put in a formal complaint about this refusal of time off for essential medical treatment. He is well aware I’m doing radiotherapy for cancer in that period, it was in my text message explaining I wouldn’t be in for those two weeks.

why would you not??

Do you know who doesn’t turn up reliably? People with cancer, that’s who. Which is protected.

Just to be sure I understand correctly, you emailed him telling him about the radiotherapy 6 weeks ago and he has only just replied telling you can't take time off because it's half-term and other people have already booked their time off? What is he on?

You must log this with HR.

Cancer patients have lifelong disability rights, even after their cancer is "cured", so he cannot discriminate against you. Take this as far as you can.

What a prick.

Get a fit note, inform HR, and good luck with the treatment

I'd make a complaint against him. He needs sacking pdq.

I would just reply to his messages, copying in HR, saying something like 'Dear XX, I have not requested time off for a half-term holiday. As you know, I am undergoing a scheduled life-saving medical procedure, which is a protected characteristic and for which I am entitled to take time off work to accommodate. If I plan to take more than 7 days of work, I will be providing a work absence certificate. I am now copying in HR so that they can discuss this further with you as these conversations are now adversely affecting my health'. Let them deal with him. Utter prick.