Being denied my earned leave because I’m covering due to maternity leave

[Anonymous]

I put in for time off later in the year, because if I don’t use my earned vacation I will lose it. My supervisor is now denying my leave, because I will bet covering the work for a person who will be on maternity leave until Feb. 2024.

I don’t understand how this is fair. It is my earned leave that I desire to use. I am being punished because I choose not to have kids. I won’t be compensated either in a cash payout for lost time off. The time off I will lose obviously doesn’t not carry over either. Why should people without kids be penalized like this?

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you just submitted your leave request, but the maternity leave had already been submitted prior to yours, no?

[Anonymous]

Do you have a HR dept?
I work for local government and this wouldn’t be allowed.

[Anonymous]

Fertility rates in the U.S. are low. Women having babies and men and anyone becoming a parent in 2023 has been given an elevated status.

[Anonymous]

Well my request to use earned leave to extend my maternity leave was denied because I had to return to work to cover for someone who was taking an extra long honeymoon.

Someone has to work. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you just submitted your leave request, but the maternity leave had already been submitted prior to yours, no?

So friggin’ what. It is MY earned leave. I’m not being compensated for the loss. Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fertility rates in the U.S. are low. Women having babies and men and anyone becoming a parent in 2023 has been given an elevated status.

So what. It’s not my responsibility to fix societal problems. The govt can provide benefits for childcare for starters. Why should I lose compensation because someone else chooses to have a kid?

[Anonymous]

This is a question for your HR department, not DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you just submitted your leave request, but the maternity leave had already been submitted prior to yours, no?

So friggin’ what. It is MY earned leave. I’m not being compensated for the loss. Ridiculous.

But who submitted it first? Made atrangements first? Not you.

[Anonymous]

OP, sounds like you should go on leave right now, before the maternity eave for the other person kicks in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you just submitted your leave request, but the maternity leave had already been submitted prior to yours, no?

So friggin’ what. It is MY earned leave. I’m not being compensated for the loss. Ridiculous.

Take your leave at a different time so it doesn't overlap and therefore won't be denied.

Sounds like you waited too long.

[Anonymous]

Choose a different block of time to use your leave.

[Anonymous]

I would push back hard on HR. Are you a fed?

[Anonymous]

Talk to your HR. In the future, don't save your leave til the last minute. You're not being punished because you don't have kids. You're not able to take your leave because you're covering someone else's. It would be the same if that person was on vacation and you tried to take the same week off. You'd be denied because youre covering her vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I put in for time off later in the year, because if I don’t use my earned vacation I will lose it. My supervisor is now denying my leave, because I will bet covering the work for a person who will be on maternity leave until Feb. 2024.

I don’t understand how this is fair. It is my earned leave that I desire to use. I am being punished because I choose not to have kids. I won’t be compensated either in a cash payout for lost time off. The time off I will lose obviously doesn’t not carry over either. Why should people without kids be penalized like this?

You’re not being penalized bc you don’t have kids, so drop that line of thinking.