Ready to Quit

Level 3 Social Lesson by: Aron Thode

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

Two Hispanic men stand in a small office during a tense conversation; the older manager looks stern and unemotional while the younger employee looks down, frustrated and disappointed, beside a desk and filing cabinet.
Disappointed with my manager.
Diego FamMan3000
Mar 28, 2026 🌐

Three months ago, I asked for time off because my family reunion was finally happening. We only get together every few years, and this time my grandmother was able to come from far away. I reminded my manager twice, got the approval email, and booked my bus ticket as soon as I could.

The night before the trip, I packed food to bring and put my bag by the door. I came to work on the morning of my time off only to hand over my tasks and say goodbye. I was already thinking about the reunion when my manager called me into his office.

He said two coworkers were sick, so my time off was now being moved. He talked as if it were a small change, but it did not feel small to me. My family was already on the way, I had already spent the money, and my grandmother was waiting.

I told him my time off was already approved. He kept saying I should be a "team player," and I reached my limit. This was not the first time my plans suffered because of staffing problems. I said that if he cancelled my time off, I would quit that day. In the end, he let me take the time off, but I still feel upset about what happened. Now I keep wondering if I was wrong, but I also feel disappointed with my manager.

likes · 3 comments

Vocab List

  • family reunion (n.) — A meeting of family members after a long time apart.
  • time off (n.) — Time when you are not working.
  • approval (n.) — Official permission to do something.
  • coworker (n.) — A person who works with you.
  • hand over (v. phrase) — To give work or responsibility to another person.
  • team player (n. phrase) — A person who works well with others in a group.
  • staffing (n.) — The number of workers available in a place.
  • quit (v.) — To stop your job or leave a place.
Comment Tone Check

Comment Tone Check

Label each comment with a tone: Supportive, Critical, Neutral, or Worried.

  • CityCommuter

    You gave notice and got approval, so it makes sense that you felt pushed too far.

    Tone:
  • LateShiftGuy

    You may have reacted too strongly by saying you would quit that day.

    Tone:
  • PlainReply

    You got your time off in the end, but this sounds like a work problem, not just a one-time issue.

    Tone:

Speaker: American Male  Duration: 1:22

YouTube link

Listen and fill the gaps below:

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:

Three months ago, I asked for time (1) __________ because my family reunion was finally happening. We only get together every few years, and this time my grandmother was able to come from far away. I reminded my manager twice, got the (2) __________ email, and booked my bus ticket as soon as I could. The night before the trip, I packed food to bring and put my (3) __________ by the door. I came to work on the morning of my time off only to hand over my (4) __________ and say goodbye. I was already thinking about the reunion when my manager called me into his office. He said two (5) __________ were sick, so my time off was now being moved. He talked as if it were a small change, but it did not feel small to me. My family was already on the way, I had already spent the money, and my grandmother was waiting. I told him my time off was already approved. He kept saying I should be a "team player," and I reached my limit. This was not the first time my plans suffered because of staffing problems. I said that if he cancelled my time off, I would (6) __________ that day. In the end, he let me take the time off, but I still feel upset about what happened. Now I keep wondering if I was wrong, but I also feel disappointed with my manager.
Main Idea

Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.

Main Idea

  • The poster feels upset because a manager tried to move approved time off before a family reunion.
  • The poster is thinking about whether this job has become too hard because of staffing problems.
  • The poster wants to explain why family trips can be expensive and stressful.
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • The poster says the manager approved the time off before the trip day.
    The poster says they got the approval email and reminded the manager twice.
  • The manager said the change happened because two coworkers were sick.
    He said two coworkers were sick, so the time off was being moved.
  • The manager cancelled the time off, and the poster quit that same day.
    In the end, the manager let the poster take the time off.

True or False

1. The poster says the manager approved the time off before the trip day. T / F

2. The manager said the change happened because two coworkers were sick. T / F

3. The manager cancelled the time off, and the poster quit that same day. T / F

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):

  • ___ At work, the manager said time off was being moved because two coworkers were sick.
  • ___ The manager let the poster take time off, but the poster still felt upset and disappointed.
  • ___ The poster asked for time off, reminded the manager, and got approval.
  • ___ The poster said they would quit if the manager cancelled the approved time off.
  • ___ The night before the trip, the poster packed food and put the bag by the door.

Multiple Choice

1. Why did the poster ask for time off?

   A) To go to a concert with friends

   B) To attend a family reunion

   C) To take a short work training

   D) To move to another city

2. What did the poster plan to do when coming to work that morning?

   A) Ask for extra tasks

   B) Call the grandmother

   C) Work a full shift

   D) Hand over tasks and say goodbye

3. What happened after the poster said they would quit if time off was cancelled?

   A) The manager let the poster take time off

   B) The poster stayed and skipped the reunion

   C) The coworkers returned right away

   D) The manager changed to a new schedule next month

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. Ask for

2. Get

3. Book

4. Pack

5. Hand over

6. Spend

a) money

b) tasks

c) food

d) bus ticket

e) approval

f) time off

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. I think approved time off should be respected ________ people make plans and spend money.

    because / so / but / and

  2. The manager let him go in the end, ________ I would still feel upset after that.

    but / and / because / so

  3. ________ if my manager tried to change my approved time off, I would stay calm and explain my plans.

    Personally, / But, / Also, / For example,

Discussion Questions

  1. How important is family time for you? Why?
  2. Do you come from a large family?
  3. Should approved time off always be respected? Why or why not?
  4. What would you say to a manager in this situation?
  5. How can a company deal with staffing problems better?
  6. Would you still trust this manager after this event? Why or why not?
  7. What is a polite way to disagree with your boss?
  8. Have you ever felt pressured to be a "team player"? What happened?
  9. What is more important in this story: rules, money, or respect?
  10. What advice would you give the poster for next time?

Answers

Think Ahead: b

Tone:

  1. Supportive
  2. Critical
  3. Neutral

Listening: (1) off, (2) approval, (3) bag, (4) tasks, (5) coworkers, (6) quit

Main Idea: The poster feels upset because a manager tried to move approved time off before a family reunion.

True or False:

  1. True. The poster says they got the approval email and reminded the manager twice.
  2. True. He said two coworkers were sick, so the time off was being moved.
  3. False. In the end, the manager let the poster take the time off.

Multiple Choice: B, D, A

Put Events in Order:

  1. The poster asked for time off, reminded the manager, and got approval.
  2. The night before the trip, the poster packed food and put the bag by the door.
  3. At work, the manager said time off was being moved because two coworkers were sick.
  4. The poster said they would quit if the manager cancelled the approved time off.
  5. The manager let the poster take time off, but the poster still felt upset and disappointed.

Vocabulary:

  1. Ask for: time off
  2. Get: approval
  3. Book: bus ticket
  1. Pack: food
  2. Hand over: tasks
  3. Spend: money

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Reason. 2) Contrast. 3) Opinion.

  1. because
  2. but
  3. Personally,

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