Woman books trip to sister’s wedding. Two days before the wedding, she gets a call: ‘I am too European for this’
Work should be the last thing on your mind during an important event. And weddings aren’t an exception. Nothing should interfere with witnessing a loved one committing to their forever person at the altar.
But work-from-home California corporate employee Michaela (@wfhmichaela) shares how her job disregarded her co-worker’s approved paid time off by trying to force postpone attending a wedding. Being an exemplary employee didn’t stop the workplace’s impending wrath.
“My co-worker just got fired for literally the pettiest reason,” she begins her clip. “This girl was literally one of the top performers on our team. Consistently hit her metrics, never caused any problems,” she explains. Then, she jumps into what led to the termination to over 439,000 viewers.
“Last month, she put in her PTO request for her sister’s wedding. Three weeks’ notice and the manager approves it in the system,” the content creator says. “She books her flight, she books her hotels. Nothing is refundable.”
However, a message stirred trouble in paradise. “Two days before she’s supposed to leave, her manager messages her on Teams, ‘I know you have PTO but we really need you for this client’s presentation. Can you push your trip?’” Michaela reveals. “‘She’s like, ‘No I can’t. It’s my sister’s wedding. Everything’s booked. I’m taking my PTO.’”
Although the manager allegedly tried to guilt her into canceling, the co-worker refused to budge. Unbeknownst to her at the time, she had a rude awakening waiting for her.
A Wedding Cost The Job?
“So, she goes on her trip, comes back on Monday, and gets a call from HR,” she says. “They’re saying she abandoned her responsibilities [and] showed a lack of commitment to the team.” The reason? “They said, ‘Your manager expressed concerns about your dedication and we decided to let you go. Effective immediately,’” the content creator relays.
But the co-worker refused to back down. So, she pulled a Uno reverse.
“She asked to see documentation and they can’t produce anything. Just the manager’s word,” Michaela reveals. “She pulls out her phone and she goes, ‘Actually, I have a recording of the Teams’ entire conversation where he approved my PTO and tried to guilt me into canceling. It’s all right here.’”
Needless to say, the tables had turned. “HR’s face went white and so they said that they’ll look into this and end the meeting.” To add a cherry on top, she was allegedly taking action. “That was four days ago. Nobody’s heard anything. She’s actually talking to a lawyer right now,” she says.
Michaela imparted a piece of advice before wrapping up. “They will absolutely gaslight you. So, record everything,” she concludes.
Viewers Across The Globe Are Shocked
Many unanimously sided with the co-worker, condemning the workplace for terminating her after she didn’t bend to their will.
“She should get an employment lawyer. They are free and only get paid if you win,” one viewer suggested.
“That’s 100% illegal,” another commented.
“Needed her for an important client presentation and couldn’t do without her… now they don’t have her at all for any client???” a third said.
Meanwhile, others outside the U.S. claimed this wouldn’t be acceptable in their countries.
“I am too European for this … worker’s right y’all,” one commenter wrote.
“In Belgium that would be a lawsuit,” a second stated.
“This would [never happen in Australia]. There’s a law against this kind of termination,” a third echoed.
Is it Illegal For A Job To Fire You For Using PTO?
It can be as it can violate protected leave and workers’ rights, especially in California, where Michaela and her co-worker are located. Essentially, this is wrongful termination, and employers cannot fire someone for taking approved time off without legitimate business reasons, according to Feher Law.
Companies attempt to get around this by masquerading their retaliation as a business reason to let someone go. Michaela’s employer took a page straight out of that retaliation playbook, firing the co-worker after returning based on performance. Collecting all of the receipts as proof for a case is the best evidence if pursuing legal action.
@wfhmichaela The way HR’s faces dropped when she showed the receipts #playbacks #corporatetiktok #toxicworkplace #hrnightmare #fypageシ ♬ original sound – michaela
The Mary Sue reached out to Michaela via TikTok comment and direct message.
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