Thread spinoff: denied time off and vacation approval notice

Spinoff on another calling out thread: I have 2 coworkers who planned trips for the summer. They requested to switch days so that they would be covering each other's vacations, essentially. Management refused the switch and now they will be calling out those days as they've spent money on non refundable arrangements etc. Hard to understand the reasoning for management's refusal and now we will be working short. Would you call out in their situation?

Also curious how far ahead of time you know if your time off is approved? I've put in months in advance and we aren't notified of approval(as in, seeing the time off on the calendar) until 4-6 weeks before the time off. This isn't really enough time to make flight arrangements, etc. Emails asking about approval are generally ignored.
I wouldn't just call off, I'd be looking for a new job and have one lined up for when I got back from vacation. Then I would put in my notice effective before vacation starts and have a good time. Unless your place is the only one to work, life is too short to put up with that BS.

Wow. So they would have been able to cover each other? Unless it would cause OT, why would it be a problem?

Quote from KeepItRealRNI wouldn't just call off, I'd be looking for a new job and have one lined up for when I got back from vacation. Then I would put in my notice effective before vacation starts and have a good time. Unless your place is the only one to work, life is too short to put up with that BS.

Absurd. If I were them, I'd make sure that the staffing office knew I'd be available to be called in, but only at the Premium Pay, Bonus Rate, etc. Make 'em pay for this stupidity.

The manager in the OP is a complet @$$hat. Why would anyone put up with that. Again, Is it the only place to work? Do they pay huge $$ and that is the reason people stay? Vacation time is an earned benefit and nurses have the right to use it. If these nurses don't go on their vacations they may regret it for the rest of their lives.

Quote from michelle126Wow. So they would have been able to cover each other? Unless it would cause OT, why would it be a problem?

Quote from sistrmoonExcellent question. I really don't get it. It would have been win-win for everyone. It almost seems spiteful to me.

Quote from KeepItRealRNThe manager in the OP is a complet @$$hat. Why would anyone put up with that. Again, Is it the only place to work? Do they pay huge $$ and that is the reason people stay? Vacation time is an earned benefit and nurses have the right to use it. If these nurses don't go on their vacations they may regret it for the rest of their lives.

Quote from BeachyRN2BeI agree. I really don't codone calling out but when you found your own coverage like OP mentioned, then management says no AFTER you've booked, etc it kind of says a lot about the management.I could see initially if it caused OT but paying out OT seems a lot better than running your staff short.

Quote from KeepItRealRNIf there is no OT and this is the reason, then I would definately be getting a new job and time it so that I was between jobs during my vacation. If you indeed have a manager that is this immature then you should run as well.

Quote from sistrmoonThey are chopping down our allowable accrued time off and people are starting to lose hours because they can't get time off.

I don't understand why the switch would be denied if there was no overtime as a result of it.When I worked scheduled shifts, I used to put in for vacations six months in advance due to limitations on how many could take vacation at the same time. I usually heard back within a few weeks.Now, as a per diem, I don't have to ask for time off. I just tell them when I can and cannot work. The downside, no PTO- no work, no pay.