Product manager implies that I should not go on vacation as it might hurt timelines!!

Apple
bbbsnjs

Go to company page Apple

bbbsnjs
Jun 4, 2021 27 Comments

A product manager aggressively asked me in a meeting that “if you go on a vacation it will stall the timelines “ .. “do you know what we can do about it”.. implying that I am harming his timelines and I better think twice about vacation with my family!!

Is this common behavior in industry now?

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 TOP 27 Comments
  • MetLife
    CQhg21

    Go to company page MetLife

    CQhg21
    Take your vacation. If your manager didn't plan coverage, that's their problem.
    Jun 4, 2021 0
  • Amazon
    spceghost

    Go to company page Amazon

    spceghost
    Did you plan the vacation before these timelines were set? Were they aware that you were going to take a vacation before the established the timelines?
    Jun 4, 2021 7
    • Uber
      qzFp35

      Go to company page Uber

      qzFp35
      Yea If it’s more than 2 weeks out till the start of your vacation when you mentioned it then it’s reasonable. If You say hey next week I’ll be out, as a PM i’d be not so happy. But I wouldn’t be a dick and try to get you to not take it. I’d legitimately highlight it as a reason the project is delayed tho since it’s fact.
      Jun 4, 2021
    • Apple
      bbbsnjs

      Go to company page Apple

      bbbsnjs
      OP
      One is entitled to their emotions and also nothing wrong in highlighting if the project gets delayed, but, behaving as if I have signed up for slave-labor where I cannot take time off to cool off with my family is off this world!
      Jun 4, 2021

  • This comment was deleted by original commenter.

    • New
      IOAf43

      New

      IOAf43
      This.
      Jun 4, 2021
  • Never heard of a PM calling shots like this for Engineering personnel. Is your manager a eunuch?
    Jun 4, 2021 0
  • To the PM’s question of “do you know what we can do about it?” a few answers come to mind:
    - get more realistic timelines
    - get more people to work on this
    - ask manager, not IC to help with timeline problems

    But for sure—None of those answers are for you to not go on vacation!!
    Jun 4, 2021 0