Jewish Holiday and Vacation

[joe11]

My question involves labor and employment law for the state of: Illinois
I work for a small office with 4 employees, manger and owner.
I recently put in a form to request vaction time for September 28 thru October 1st. The request came back denied because the 28th is a jewish holiday and 3 people are out for the holiday. I have already booked a flight not knowing of the holiday. Can this happen? Do I have any rights?

[cbg]

Yes, it can happen.

You have lots of rights, but they do not include being able to take whatever time off you want. It is quite within the employer's right to deny time off to any employee unless a legally binding and enforceable contract specifically states that you can always, regardless of circumstances, take the time for vacation that you want. And I have yet to see even a non-binding policy that says that.

[Betty3]

You really shouldn't have booked the flight until your vacation time off request came back approved.

Agree that your employer is doing nothing illegal/wrong denying you the time off. Sorry.