‘Wrong’: Insane request from boss goes viral

An employee has leaked the wild texts she got from her boss while she was on annual leave.

A boss is going viral for the wild text message he sent a female worker on annual leave.

UK workplace expert Ben Askins has found his niche online by sharing anonymous text messages submitted by workers and calling out bosses.

He has racked up over 27 million views, sharing people’s work sagas and giving a real glimpse into modern workplaces.

MORE: 5 signs your workplace is toxic – and what to do about it

Mr Askins recently shared an exchange between a boss and an employee where he claimed the boss got it very “wrong” with his behaviour.

It started out innocently enough: A boss texted a team member and asked if they could handle a presentation for a co-worker who couldn’t make it to the meeting because they were at an emergency client meeting.

The employee replied and explained that she couldn’t come in because she had booked in annual leave and had plans with her children.

“It wasn’t really a request TBH. I need you in by 11am,” the boss fired back.

A boss is going viral for the wild text message he sent a female worker on annual leave Picture: TikTok/BenAskins

MORE: Is a toxic workplace warping your sense of what’s normal?

The worker didn’t accept the demand and argued that she had been working extra hours for weeks and was entitled to leave, which had been approved in advance.

The boss didn’t agree and argued, “One day isn’t too much to ask. I can revoke your day off and expect you in at 11am.”

“That doesn’t feel very fair,” the mum fired back, before arguing that a co-worker attending a lunch shouldn’t take priority over her spending time with her children.

“Not going to lie. I decide what is fair. We will have a conversation about our commitment when you’re in today. If you’re not here, it is coming out of your bonus,” the boss said.

The workplace expert argued no one should feel guilt about annual leave. Picture: TikTok/BenAskins

He argued the boss was wrong. Picture: TikTok/BenAskins

Mr Askins claimed he’d never seen someone “be more wrong in a text message” and argued that under no circumstances do you get to “guilt people” into giving up their annual leave.

He also argued that the boss had his priorities all wrong and looked horrified by the exchange.

“How are these people in management?” he asked.

People online were pretty shocked by the exchange. Picture: iStock

People online weren’t impressed by the text exchange, with many sharing, and this is exactly why they don’t respond to work requests outside of office hours.

“Last time I checked paying me doesn’t mean owning me,” one pointed out.

“This is why you don’t answer works texts outside of office hours,” another advised.

“This is tough to watch. Definitely not the kind of leadership anyone deserves,” one admitted.

“I swear some managers wish annual leave didn’t exist,” one said.

“This is awful,” someone else said.

“I hope they quit that job,” another wrote.

Originally published as ‘Wrong’: Insane request from boss goes viral