(Yesterday; 4pm local time)

"Hey Anna, we'll need you to cover the holidays for some of your teammates", said the manager.

"I can't, I have vacation time scheduled and approved until January." says I.

Mgr: "I know, I"m sorry, I have to cancel it. I want you to cover so that the people with families can celebrate the holiday."

Me: "Well, they've already had their vacation haven't they? I covered for them over the July 4th break, and had two vacations canceled this year already. And we have a use-it-or-lose-it-policy. I have plans to be with my family."

Mgr: "Yes, I know, and I appreciate that, and I'm asking you to do it again, so they can spend time with their loved ones."

Me: "I'm sorry, but no, I can't do that. And I really need the time off."

Mgr: "I didn't know you were married, Anna!"

Me: "I'm not, and that has nothing to do with anything."

Mgr: "Well I need you to cover for the people with kids. You understand."

Me: "With respect, the answer is no. Whoever is on call will just have to manage, like I do when I have to cover the holidays."

Mgr: "Look, Anna, there's no need to get frustrated. We have to work as a team, and so you'll be covering over the holidays."

Me: "That leaves me with zero vacation time for this year."

Mgr: "We'll make it up to you next year."

Me: "We can't, because company policy is use-it-or-lose-it. As it is, I'm losing 2 weeks, because I have earned 4 and can only use 2 by December 31."

Mgr: "We'll work something out in financial year 24."

Me: "You said that in July, that I'd have extra time in December to compensate for covering in July."

Mgr: "I don't rememver saying that. But there's no need to get heated here, I'm canceling your vacation, and I'm expecting you to cover for the team."

Me: "I have an email from you from July saying exactly this, I'll send it to you again. And I'm not getting heated, my voice is calm. I'm being assertive, there's a difference with all due respect.

Mgr: *Sigh* I don't want to argue about this, Anna. You're a great employee and we really value your contribution, but right now I'm asking you to be a team player.

Me: "Why haven't you asked the other folks, the ones with kids, to be team players?"

Mgr: "I have, and right now they should be home with their kids."

Me: "And I should be home with my family."

Mgr: "I'm sure they'll understand. Thanks for covering, I appreciate it."

Me: "I can't emphasize this enough: I lead the security initiative this year, managed the project, wrote most of the code, and insured it's deliver on time. I'm exhausted. I did all this with no time off all year, and had to cover for people who did get vacation time, even people not in my department. I did this because I am a team player, but right now, I really need some downtime. I'm tired. I should take my 4 weeks, but 4 wasn't approved. Only 2 were approved. And now you're un-approving them. So. I hope I'm being clear: I need a break.

Mgr: "I understand that, Anna, and we can get you a break next year. Right now, I've already told your teammates that they could have time off, and we'll get you to cover."

Me: "Huh, should have asked me first."

Mgr: "I'm telling you now, so thank you for covering for them and for being a team player."

Me: "I feel like you're not giving me a choice."

Mgr: "I don't have a choice either, I already committed to people that you'd cover for them."

Me: "I understand. Well, and I'm saying this calmly and professionally, and I'll follow up with an email to you , to the Director, and to HR, tomorrow will be my last day with the company. I know when I'm burning out and need a break, and this is it. And if the company won't have my back when I need something, after having theirs whenever it needs something, then this isn't the company for me.

Mgr: "Um.. lets talk about this on Monday. Why don't you take the weekend to cool off?"

Me: "I'm cool now. My tone of voice is really calm, isn't it?"

Mgr: "Yes, but you sound distressed."

Me: "Well, I am distressed, but I'm also under control and I'm making a rational decision. I've told you that I really need the time off to rest and recover and recharge. I need you to have my back, and instead you're giving the people who have already taken their maximum time off even more time off, because they have kids. I'm pretty sure that's a Title VI violation, but I'l lsee what HR has to say. Anyway, tomorrow is my last day. *I get up and leave*

(Fade out, fade in to this morning, 6am)
Director calls my phone.

Me: *bleary, drinking my first cup of coffee* Hello?

Director: "Hi Anna. Thanks for taking my call. Rough night last night by the sound of it?"

Me: "What? No. It's 6am I only just got up."

Director: "Oh, my apologies, I thought you were east coast."

Me: "No, I've been west coast since time began. What's up?"

Director: "I heard about what happened yesterday, and I want to apologize, and ask you to reconsider. You're an integral part of the team and I value your contributions. Lets meet in January and discuss what we can do to make this right."

Me: "With all respect, I've taken care of it, I'm taking well-deserved time off."

Director: "Yes, and is there any way you can take this time off without resigning your position?"

Me: "No, that ship has sailed I'm afraid."

Director: "I wish I'd known about this sooner, Anna. I would have stepped in."

Me: "That's between you and your manager, really. I reported to him directly. Maybe you need a better manager reporting to you?"

Director: *ignores my comment about the manager* "Let's chat on Monday, and see what we can do."

Me: "I'll be on vacation on Monday, and I'll be available after January 8th."

Director: "Of course. Lets talk in January."

Me: "My resignation stands. Today is my last day."

Director: "It's customary to give us two weeks notice, Anna, I'm a little surprised at the sudden departure."

Me: "Well, I was give one day's notice to cancel my planned 2 week vacation, which means I'd lose not just 2 weeks of vacation but now all 4 weeks of vacation. I think this is appropriate."

Director: "I understand. Alright. Lets talk in January. Is there anything I can do to get you to change your mind?"

Me: "I'm afraid not"

Director: "Have a good holiday, Anna, speak with you in January."

Me singing.. "Freeee... as a. birrrdddd....."

*Update*
[Slack at 10:30am] "Hey Anna, this is Tyler. Manager wanted me to call and schedule a meeting for Monday to do a hand-off of the project you've been running. Does 10am work?"

Me: No, it has to be today. I won't be available after today.

Tyler: "Um ok. Robert is your replacement and he's out today. Can we do Tuesday?"

Me: "No, today is my last day. Tell Robert to meet me today."

Tyler: "Um he's out all day."

Me: "Oh well? I don't know what to tell you. Today is my last day. Has to be today."

Tyler: "Ok, um, so is there like a wiki for your project?"

Me: "Yes, it has everything documented in there, and the code is all in the code repository. Read the docs and the code.

Tyler: "Can we call you if we have questions?"

Me: "I will return after January 8th, and if you have any questions then, we'll set up a contract with my daily consulting rate."

Tyler: "Yeah I don't know if that's gonna fly.

Me: "Too bad so sad, really. I don't work for free.

Tyler: "I get it sorry to bother you. OK I'll tell the manager."

Me: "I started at 6am this morning, local time. I'm off at 2pm local time. You guys have until then, after which I'm not an employee anymore."

Tyler: "K. This sucks. Sorry it had to happen this way."

[End of Slack DM]