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The Global Insight

Can an employer tell you what to do on your time off?

Author

Robert Miller

Updated on March 20, 2026

So if the reason for your termination is not illegal under the laws of your state, then yes, your employer can fire you for what you do on your own time, outside of work. As long as the conduct does not present a conflict with the employer’s business, the activity should be allowed.

Can your employer contact you on your day off?

The law does not require vacation days or days off to begin with–it’s up to the employer to set schedules, determine days off, provide vacation days, etc.; and similarly, an employer is free to contact an employee on his/her day off (or vacation day) and ask him/her questions or make him/her do work.

Can an employer ask why an employee needs time off?

In general, employers are allowed to ask for the details of your illness. “Asking what is wrong requires the employee to give a brief and general explanation about why he or she is absent, e.g., the employee’s child is sick, the employee has a general illness or the employee has a major or minor injury.”

Can my employer dictate when I take my holidays?

You do not necessarily have the right to choose when you take your holiday and your employer can tell you when to take your leave. However, your employer has to give you two days’ notice for every day they want you to take.

When to count a day away from work?

Response 3: Again, if the employee had not seen the doctor on Tuesday, that day should be counted as a day away from work if the employer determines the employee cannot work because of the injury. Thank you for your interest in occupational safety and health. We hope you find this information helpful.

How often do new employees get time off?

Let’s look at the answers to eight common questions about time off, which can help you resolve these frequent issues. Answer: Most companies give new employees 10 days of paid time off (PTO) a year. Typically, new employees are allowed to take time off after a probationary period of 30, 60 or 90 days.

What to do when an employee asks for time off?

Always make reasonable accommodations for an employee to observe his or her religious beliefs, unless this creates an “undue hardship” for your company. Improve the efficiency of your time-off request process by using the Time Off Request Smart App.

Can a company deny an employee time off?

For example, if time-off requests are approved 99.9 percent of the time, and the policy appears flexible as a result, you may find yourself in trouble if you decide to deny a request based on a reason found within the policy. When the request goes against company time-off policy.