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I typically always approve. I keep my team happy and the net output of their work product is higher than if I were to micromanage.
I've never denied PTO regardless of the notice period. And I've had a couple one day notice requests recently...probably more than any other year. I think there is a lot of stress going around and I am hoping they are taking a mental health day.
Regardless I've never had a project where I couldn't make up the work myself or manage it in plan. But then again my teams are always professionals and I trust them to make good decisions.
👏🏼 👏🏼. PTO is a right and we shouldn’t shame our team members for using their earned time off. We should 100% encourage and support them so they come back recharged & ready to do great work for you + team
No, unless it’s a very important customer facing deliverable that nobody else can do. As a manager you have to ask your self if it’s just ego getting in the way or is it really that important.
Rising Star
Maybe figure out why? I would never take PTO with that short of notice except for an emergency.
Yes, if it impacts the work plan in a non-acceptable manner.
At Bain we say ~100% PTO acceptance with two weeks notice or more, and ~0% with two days notice or less.
Well that explanation is v different from your comment. Lmao don’t get all bothered because your initial attempt to say this wasn’t clear
I mean, I’d have to have a real good reason to deny it.
Thanks y’all for the quick check. I approved it, not worth the battle I agree
I would also check that the employee is actually ok. Day before PTO requests are rare & normally something is ‘up’.
‘Let me know if you need any support….’
If they need to take the very next day it’s most likely an important situation that they are not required to disclose. Unless it’s a critical day and they are key to the project and will be presenting to the CEO alone, don’t deny it.
As a manager , pick your battles.
Is this a “my buddy lucked into suite tickets to something cool” or a “I’m sick kinda of thing?” If the former, I always try to accommodate. Several years ago my wife lucked into World Series suite tickets through work. I’d just taken a week off to study for the GMAT and my manager could’ve said no, but literally thought about if for 30 mins and worked to make it happen. Hell always have my utmost loyalty and respect. Not saying you need to allow if you absolutely can’t, but think what you can buy with that good will? If it’s the latter, you don’t get a damn vote.
PTO is a part of my compensation package. I do not ask permission to take it, just like I do not ask permission on how to spend my salary.
Obviously, if it’s a crazy insane, all hands of deck week, then I likely wouldn’t schedule my PTO with 24 hrs notice. However, if my shit is in order and I know it’a going to be a relatively quiet day (full of mouse jiggling as opposed to actually working) then I will take the PTO that I have rightfully accrued.
Rising Star
If that's the only reason... I wouldn't choose that hill to die on. An incident like that will have a highly negative impact on engagement and relention
I echo everyone saying they try to approve.
Life happens. And we need to normalize not needing an explanation.
I can’t remember the last time I denied a PTO request, regardless of notice. I guess I’d consider denying if a project was put at risk or the person asking was supposed to lead a major meeting or turn in a major deliverable on the requested day off and they hadn’t suggested backfill...but I would ask them for a solution and try to figure this out before denying.
Also just from the perspective of someone requesting such an urgent PTO, it's probably and emergency and I will be gone whether my manager approved it or not.
Sure you can deny it but they are also free to hate your guts
I always approve irrespective of deliverables or not.
Approving will pay dividends bc this person will respect you for your flexibility and humanity.
And note, even if you deny, they still may go. Approve it, figure it out and deal with it when they return, I.E setting expectations.
I always start projects I’m leading by making sure we have a PTO tracker for team and telling entire team basic etiquette for taking time off.
It’s usually that if you want to take a day or two off, that’s fine just let me know when you know and make sure they plan their work / meetings around it - people should take time off when they feel they need a break, no big deal if it’s spontaneous in most cases. Obviously if there is a deliverable due that they aren’t going to get done in time or if they are blowing off a client meeting with no notice, that’s different.
Even if its a casual “doing anything fun?” lol
Giving double the amount of notice as the time off is generally a good minimum - although give more if possible. Want a day off? Try and inform two days prior. Want a week off? Aim for at least a couple of weeks notice. In practice for a single day I’d not care if someone in my team messaged me day of; as long as there’s nothing mega urgent going on.