First of all, thank you to everyone who commented on my original post. I read pretty much every response, and a lot of you encouraged me to stand my ground. Unfortunately, things didn't go the way I hoped. I spoke to my manager again yesterday and explained that my vacation had been approved almost two months ago. I reminded him that I'd already spent around $600 on flights and accommodation that I couldn't get refunded. I also explained that I hadn't seen my family in months and that this trip was really important to me.
His response was basically that he understood my frustration, but the situation hadn't changed. Apparently, the coworker who called in sick won't be returning anytime soon, and they haven't been able to find anyone to cover those shifts. I asked if there was any possibility of working extra hours when I returned or finding someone from another location to cover for me. He said they'd already considered their options and that they needed me there. Then I asked what would happen if I went on my trip anyway.
He didn't directly say I'd be fired, but he made it very clear that missing my scheduled shifts could result in disciplinary action. That was the moment I realized I wasn't going to win this. I know a lot of people told me to go anyway, but I genuinely can't afford to lose my job right now. I have rent, bills, and other expenses, and I don't have enough savings to risk being unemployed. So I told him I'd come in. I contacted the airline and the accommodation to see if there was anything they could do, but so far, I haven't been able to recover the money.
The worst part was having to call my family and tell them I wasn't coming anymore. My mom was really disappointed, although she tried not to make me feel worse about it. I'm honestly exhausted. I've covered so many shifts for other people, stayed late when they needed help, and rarely complained about anything. But the one time I needed my employer to respect something they'd already agreed to, suddenly none of that mattered. I'm going to work next week because I need the paycheck, but I've already started looking for another job. I don't think I can keep working somewhere that expects complete flexibility from employees while offering none in return. I guess this isn't the update anyone wanted, but it's what happened.
Thanks again to everyone who gave me advice. I really appreciate it.
TL;DR: I tried speaking to my manager again, but he refused to reinstate my approved vacation and warned me about disciplinary action if I didn't show up. I can't afford to lose my job, so I'm canceling my trip, losing around $600, and going to work. I've started looking for another job.
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