for a little background and context; I (f22) am (unfortunately) stuck in a retail position that I've had for a little over a year where my boss makes it nearly impossible for me to use my vacation, call-out or even use sick time. every time I try to get some time off, one of my coworkers is going on vacation or we are entering a “black-out” (where multiple weeks are blocked off so no one can call out or use vacation) or I get flat-out denied for my request. I also have about 76 hrs of vacation accrued and I want to use it – that's what it's there for, right?
I'm incredibly burnt out to the point it's taking a toll on my body physically and emotionally (im also full-time, 40 hrs a week)but as I stated above, she will not let me use my earned time off. I have asked for time off since April and the next available time would be early November. I've always compromised and worked with her / the schedule and that's maybe the problem.
I've also asked multiple times for an explanation on why I'm being denied and all that she can say is that I'd be taking TOO MUCH time and they NEED me or she simply just can't do it. I've even requested not using the full amount of my vacation and only a few days of it (trying to be considerate) and still got denied!
have any of you been in this situation? what can I do? what SHOULD I do? is this all a lost cause? am I overreacting?
(also, I should note that I have taken time off before but it's a STRUGGLE…. I'm met with little comments when I've called out sick with COVID twice/or a stomach bug…. “at this rate, you're going to lose all of your sick time if you keep calling out” “having COVID isn't an excuse to take a vacation” or even threatening to get HR involved if I dont provide a doctor's note within three days of not coming into work but using sick time…)