This story is set in the Canadian province of Ontario.
Our company was having a one week shutdown for cleaning, maintenance and repairs. As a senior employee, I had the option to work through it. Most of the managers are away.
Anyway, on the first day, my wife notifies me that she has gotten a great deal on a vacation in Nova Scotia and that we are going next week. I have been married long enough to acknowledge her wisdom.
Thus, I put in my vacation notice. I give it to the stand-in manager (from my department but different shift). He says, “This is such short notice and it may not get approved.” I responded, “I am not asking, I am telling you that I will be out of the province for a week and a half.” He hesitated and then said “If it doesn’t get approved, you won’t get paid for the statutory holiday (Canada Day fell during my vacation period). I looked at him and replied, “I can afford to lose it.”
Then went back to my maintenance work.
My request was approved the next day.
Bit of background: I seldom take sick days. I usually schedule my holidays months in advance. I have trained my backup to be sufficiently competent so no problem there.