Colleague keeps making remarks about me taking annual leave

[Motylog]

A colleague asked why I had come into the office today, and I explained that I wanted to tie up a few loose ends before my annual leave tomorrow and Monday.

Another colleague jokingly said, “You’re not allowed annual leave.” This is not the first time they have made comments like this. They previously said something similar during a team meeting, at which point a manager immediately stepped in and clarified that all staff are entitled to take their annual leave.

This evening, I sent a brief handover email, mainly as a precaution as there are unlikely to be many calls while I am away. The same colleague responded to the email with a sad emoji.

At the moment, I feel quite low in this role and have really been needing this break. The repeated comments and reactions make me feel as though my time off is not being respected, which I find difficult. I am not a workhorse.

Do they not take annual leave then?

Is it because he/she will have to do your work while you’re on AL ? Just ignore it, I assume they also take leave and don’t have a problem with that

Are they not just trying to say in a clumsy way that they will miss you?

Can you directly ask them why they keep repeating the same drivel? And don't they take annual leave themselves? what an oddbod. I would challenge their remark.

I don’t understand the issue. Is there some context here? Have they mistreated you in the past?

This is just a joke (and a compliment) isn't it? The suggestion is that you're not allowed annual leave because you are so indispensable and they can't possibly manage without you.

It's said a lot in my workplace anyway.

Yes, could it be this?

We say that all the time in our office. It’s a way to pretend that the work the person does is so important and only they do it right. In actual fact any idiot can pick it up and do it better but it makes the person feel valued.

It’s just a weak and standard office joke. Do you usually take things literally?

I think they're trying to be nice to you. Are you finding things tough otherwise? It doesn't seem like this is the sort of thing that would normally upset.

I also interpreted it as they like you/ think you do good work and you'll be missed while gone.

It's a standard office joke.

Both the comment and the emoji are complimentary

Thanks for your replies. I know they were probably joking and are usually nice. The workload is getting to me so I suppose when comments like this are made I don’t want to feel like a number with work overload expectations.

I think you’re wildly misinterpreting the person, do you usually struggle with communication to this extent? “You’re not allowed AL” is just a lighthearted way of telling a colleague they’re valued and it’s noticed when they’re away. You’re reading far too much into it.

It’s just a joke. We say it at work when people are finishing their shift before the shop closes 😀

It’s a standard lame office joke surely, along with “you don’t have to be mad to work here but it helps,” or the “don’t say q.u.i.e.t word” said in a dramatic stage whisper. At least it has been wherever I’ve worked.

I think they mean it as a compliment as in “omg what are we going to do without you”.

Are they trying to be empathetic about the work load. As in we're all over worked and can't afford to take off time wise. Isn't it an attempt at humour?

Unless it was set in a really horrible way - it's difficult to communicate tone in text - I would assume they meant "we value and appreciate you so much, we worry about how we'll cope without you" so is intended as a compliment. If it's too difficult for you to receive it as such then it's for the manager to have a quiet word with the colleague and say that it's important to understand that a comment like that made in jest could sound hurtful to someone whose sense of humour doesn't chime the same way - but from your description of how your manager responded, it sounds like they are switched on to understanding this.

It’s a normal office joke. It means they think they can’t get by without you. The sad emoji means they’ll miss you.

If someone says something in a not joke-way “you’re always on leave”. You respond that you are all entitled to the same annual leave. In the UK people aren’t usually building up loads or not taking any. HR will make sure everyone is taking the minimum and usually there’s a few months grace period if you carry unused leave over and most organisations only allow you to carry 5 days. If you have bought more annual leave, say you’ve taken the extra days out of your wage and that policy is available to all employees.

Gosh, do you take everything to heart OP?

Hardly something to get annoyed about.

It's not like 'you're not allowed annual leave' is a serious comment.

That's my take.

Exactly. You're making an issue out of nothing. This is standard workplace banter.

Surely they're just joking that you're too important to be away and that you'll be missed, not actually suggesting you shouldn't take the leave?