Anonymous wrote:They pay me $15/hr. I watch 3 kids all under the age of 5 and do some housework.

I booked the trip already and my husband already had his vacation time approved.

You just said exactly what one pp mentioned and is actually true. When you're given 2 weeks vacation, your employer can either deny or approve your request for particular weeks. Just as your husbands boss could have denied his request, your boss has denied it. Is it bitchy? Yes. But does it happen in the real working world? All the time!

You should always request it off before you make any arrangements.

They pay me $15/hr. I watch 3 kids all under the age of 5 and do some housework.

I booked the trip already and my husband already had his vacation time approved.

Did they say yes when you originally asked them about it 6 months out?
If you gave that much notice and have already booked something, I would simply revert to your notice of the days and the contract.
If for some reason their vacation "clock" resets in a month or so though and it's not a specific booking you have, would it be possible to shift the trip a bit? You should not HAVE to do this - this is just an option to consider if you want to stay there.

Anonymous wrote:Op again - they were also gone for an additional 2 weeks back in March. MB's parents came to help with the kids, but I still worked my full 65 hour week.

65 hours a week???!!!!!
What do they pay you?

Op again - they were also gone for an additional 2 weeks back in March. MB's parents came to help with the kids, but I still worked my full 65 hour week.

OP here, I worked for them while just MB and DB were on vacation by themselves. I stayed over and took care of their house and 3 children. They were gone for a week.

Remind them of your contract and start looking for another position. They clearly do not respect you. You said you worked during their vacations? Taking care of their home I assume. Ask them if they feel that you do not deserve a vacation. This is crazy. Their back up care is their problem, not yours.

Having 2 weeks vacation does not mean that you are entitled to take it any time. Your employer can deny a request as long as they allow you to take it sometime else during the year. Employers can also rescind previous approvals which is not a great or advisable situation but the contract for PTO doesn't protect you from this.

Thank goodness for your written agreement. I hope they decide to honor it. I am sorry they are behaving this way.

OP again, I worked while they were on vacation and my vacations are at my discretion.

OP here, yes, I am an adult and I do have an agreement. I am still taking my vacations, because I need some time for myself. It just aggrivated me that they said this.

If you have a contract, I'd show it to them to refresh their memories. They should have planned a bit better. Does your contract specify whether your vacation is at your/their discretion? If you had off for all of their vacations, I'd be willing to designate one of your weeks as having been at their discretion, still giving one week to schedule yourself.

They are trying to take advantage of you. I am sorry.

The first thing is, no one "tells" you anything, assuming that you are an adult.
You say you have an agreement with them?

So, I usually take two small trips a year. They total 7 days off. My contract says that I have 2 weeks paid vacation. I gave MB and DB a minimum of 6 months of notice for both trips.

Now I am being told that I can't take my vacations because MB and DB used all of their vacation days on their own personal trips. I am so burnt out and I need a break. I have never
called out, I don't complain when they come home late everyday and I go above and beyond for this family. I feel like this is such a slap in the face.

Sorry for the rant, but I think I will start looking for another position.