CEO mad at me for taking vacation but he ok'd it!

[debzie]

I have been working for Chairman & CEO of NYSE listed company for almost 8 years.  I recently had family in town and had requested 3 days (thurs/Friday and Monday) off.  I asked while he happened to be on vacation himself (he was gone for 3 weeks).  He was fine with it, as long as there was someone around to cover.  He returned from vacation, and I was in the office for 3 upon his return and before I left.
When I returned, he had left me an irate message saying how inconvenient it was that I was gone, why couldn't I have taken it while he was away, some other Snr VP's had mentioned how odd it was as well.

we never did speak face to face about it, but I apologized by phone and also left an email saying it was poor planning, but family had flown in during that time, and in the 8 years I have always worked my vacation time around his schedule and this time it wasn't possible and it won't happen again.

I still feel it was wrong of him to say that....what would you do??
Thanks very much

[Jackie G]

Debzie

Welcome to DD.

Well if he ok'd it in the first place with the proviso there was cover, what was the beef?  And as for the othr VPs saying it was odd, it's none of their business.

Apologising by phone/email not too smart though, would have been better to talk in person and surely after 8 years you can do that ok?  If you've always worked your holidays round his schedule before and this is a first, he's obviously just in a complete grump about it.  Speaking to him personally about it and clearing the air properly and once and for all is important.  I would cover it next time you get the chance to make sure you and he are ok and your working relationship isn't impaired as a result.

Jackie, Peer Moderator
www.iqps.org

[gee4]

Not sure I understand - did you request this leave before he went on holiday or while he was on holiday.  I wouldn't have been able to do that here - I have to request leave from my line manager and if she is off already or not in the office I wouldn't go over anyone's head unless it was particularly urgent!

G

[marimanilla]

Hi Debzie

Where does it say in your T&Cs of Employment that you must take your vacations when the CEO dictates?!

I think he's being petulant and grumpy but probably, in his own way, missed your efficiency during your weekend away.  However, that's his problem and I really don't think you should be expected to plan your vacations around his!

As professionals, we dedicate so much of our lives to our bosses, but vacation time is precious and I feel strongly that we should be entitled to choose when to take it, as long as we've gone through the correct approval procedure.

Next time I would suggest giving him as much notice as possible, as well as a bit of 'hand holding' regarding who will be covering your role in your absence.

Surely, your boss realises that it's in his interest for you to have quality vacation time or you'll be unable to work at your best in the long-term.  Good luck.

[lioness]

Whether he was on vacation or in the office when you requested the time off, he gave you the okay and shouldn't have had a problem with it. It was wrong of him to leave you an irate message while you were gone. However, you should definitely have talked to him about it in person instead of communicating by phone/voicemail. As for the other folks who commented, as long as you didn't leave them in the lurch, it isn't any of their business.

Lioness, Queen of the Jungle