Can an employer deny time off?

Yes, an employer can choose to deny time off. When doing this, it is important that the employer has a legitimate business reason for doing so. It is completely fair to deny a request if it leaves an employer without enough people to staff at a specific time.

It can be an issue if any employer denies time off at random, or if they are specifically targeting employees and denying their time off. It may be illegal if an employer denies time off as a way to punish an employee for some indiscretion or if they simply dislike the employee. That is why it is important to document any time off refusals and be sure to add legitimate reasonings behind the denial.