Some Coworkers Make Vacations Truly Necessary

(I’ve just come back from vacation. My coworker always finds covering for me overwhelming, so, of course, he’s grousing about it as soon as I get back.)

Coworker: “You’re always on vacation, man. It’s getting really annoying.”

Me: “Really? I’m always on vacation? Yeah, that’s why HR is always on my case about my unused vacation time.”

Coworker: “Yeah, I know. But it just feels like you’re always on vacation, because you take a week here and a week there. You should take all your vacation time in one big chunk, and just get it over with.”

Me: “Because I’ve been with the company a lot longer than you, I get four weeks of vacation time. When I’m gone for a week, you start pulling your hair out and asking me to come back early by Wednesday. Now, are you seriously telling me you want me gone for an entire month?”

(My coworker takes a moment to think about this.)

Coworker: “Well… all I’m saying is it’d be easier to plan around.”