
As an employee of the company, you are entitled to take leave for various reasons. Most employers offer sick leave, maternity leave, and vacation leave or vacation time. Many companies provide a few weeks of vacation time to their employees to take a break from work and relax.
There may be different rules and policies about this particular leave, depending on your company. It may come off as a shock when your employer refuses to let you go on a vacation after you have worked hard all year for the company. Everyone deserves some time off work and to go on a vacation. An employment attorney Fairfield, CT can review the company’s policies and your employment contract to suggest the best legal option.
How much vacation time are you legally entitled to?
Unfortunately, there is no state or federal law regarding mandatory vacation time. In some places, employees can have vacation time because the state and country mandate it. However, there is no such law in Connecticut. There is no vacation time that you are legally entitled to, and thus, your employer can refuse to give you time off for a vacation if they want.
However, if your particular company has certain vacation time policies or your employment contract has a similar agreement, you can raise that issue with your employer. If you have a valid reason and are legally entitled to a paid vacation, your employer must provide you with the same. If they do not, you can take legal action against them.
What if your employer retaliates after you ask for a vacation?
If your employer had promised you paid vacation at the time of recruitment, then you are well within your rights to make use of that benefit. In case your employer is unhappy with you taking the leave and unwillingly lets you go on a vacation, they may try to retaliate by decreasing your pay, moving you to a lower position in the company, or even worse, terminating you.
Signs of retaliation
You may start noticing changes at your job once you return from your vacation. Here are a few changes you should look out for.
- They keep giving your poor performance reviews for no particular reason.
- They shame you publicly or talk negatively about you.
- They may exclude you from important discussions, meetings, projects, etc.
- They spread rumors about you.
- They give you more workload than others and many more.
Some people do not file a complaint because they do not even realize they are being retaliated against. Retaliation does not always have to be as obvious as a termination or demotion. It could start from a small lecture on your poor performance to shaming you in front of your colleagues.
If your employer has promised vacation time and is now refusing to provide one, you need justice. Contact an attorney today.