Every Christmas, I ask for a week off to visit my family.
Every Christmas, my boss says no.
It became a ritual—me submitting the request with hope, him rejecting it with excuses about “staffing” and “fairness.” I stopped arguing and learned to tell my family, again, that I wouldn’t make it home.
This year, I did everything right.
I applied in June. I followed up politely. I even offered to cover extra shifts before and after the holidays.
When the schedule was posted, four coworkers were approved for Christmas vacation. I wasn’t one of them.
When I asked why, my boss didn’t hesitate.
“You don’t have kids,” he said. “The others do. You can be flexible.”
I smiled, nodded, and walked away.
That night, something shifted. Calmly, I updated my résumé and started applying. By the end of the week, I’d sent out eleven applications.
Two weeks later, I had an interview. The hiring manager asked a question I wasn’t expecting:
“What does work-life balance look like to you?”
I answered honestly: “I work hard, but I don’t think work should punish people for having a life.”
She smiled.
Three days later, I received an offer—higher pay, better benefits, flexible scheduling, and guaranteed holiday leave. I accepted immediately.
When I gave my notice, my boss froze.
“Before Christmas?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“That’s not very team-oriented.”
I smiled. “I finally realized the team never included me.”
This year, I’m going home.
And for the first time, I won’t feel guilty for choosing myself.
Because being a “team player” should never mean giving up your humanity.
