‘I know it is a big ask’: Boss’ text to worker on paternity leave divides

A text message from a boss begging a man to do some work while he was on paternity leave has sparked a furious debate.

A text message from a boss begging a man to do some work while he was on paternity leave has sparked a debate.

UK workplace expert Ben Askins often goes viral for sharing anonymous text messages between workers and their bosses.

Mr Askins reads out the exchanges and then offers his advice and, 9 times out of 10, he is usually on the worker’s side.

The workplace expert seemed stunned as he read out a wild exchange between a boss and an employee who was being hounded about work while on paternity leave.

The boss messaged the worker and apologised for the text but said they just needed some help to “jazz up” a presentation.

“You know those effects they loved last time? Team are struggling to do it,” the boss explained.

The employee replied that his partner was “exhausted” and he couldn’t do “anything right now” because he needed to help out with his family.

The new dad also pointed out that he’d walked the team through the process before he went on leave.

The boss didn't take no for an answer.

MORE: 4 tips to saying no to your boss

The boss didn’t back down and, instead, kept pushing.

“I know it is a big ask but any chance you could just hop on a call for half an hour and just talking me through it?”

“Sorry I literally can’t today. I might be able to find a bit of time tomorrow but can’t promise anything,” the worker fired back.

“Totally understand. However are you sure you have no time today? I promise not to take more than 15 minutes,” the boss pressed.

“No I have told you already. I am exhausted and have my hands full. I might be able to have some time tomorrow I will let you know,” the worker said.

The workplace expert argued it was a silly reason to contact a worker while they are on leave. Picture: TikTok/BenAskins

He said it is a good lesson in making sure everyone is trained up. Picture: TikTok/BenAskins

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

Mr Askins slammed the boss for hassling a worker on their paternity leave.

“You shouldn’t be messaging anyone on pat or mat leave. That is just obviously something you shouldn’t be doing,” he said.

The workplace expert said it was even more ridiculous to interrupt someone’s leave over something as minor as effects on a presentation but also pointed out that this is what happens when one worker holds all the knowledge.

“It reminds us how important it is to make sure that it is not just one person sitting with all the knowledge, and you do share that information around the business,” he advised.

“You can easily train people up on it.”

The text message divided. Picture: iStock

Online, people were divided, with some claiming that the worker should have just agreed to help out their boss and other’s claiming the ask was totally unreasonable.

“I’d just ignore any messages,” one person admitted.

“I got asked to be on an important meeting when on pat leave, stupidly jumped on and it was the company telling members of my team they were being made redundant. No heads up about the meeting before,” someone else shared.

“Some people can’t hear the word no,” another claimed.

“I think it would be a maybe reasonable request if they’d dropped it after the first no. But they kept pressing,” someone shared.

“Genuinely feel like he could of jumped on a quick call,” one argued.

“You could spare 15 minutes,” someone else said.

“The employees just make excuses,” another claimed.

Someone else said this was a “stupid” reason to contact a worker while on leave, with another claiming the boss should do it themselves.

“If you’ve never had a baby, you shouldn’t be commenting. I was a zombie from the lack of sleep for six weeks afterwards, all the while trying to recover physically from the birth. Double whammy! It’s not easy,” one said.

Originally published as ‘I know it is a big ask’: Boss’ text to worker on paternity leave divides