In an attempt to pull at the heartstrings, MasterCard teamed up with Expedia to surprise a hard working woman with a vacation.
The results didn't go over well.
In a new ad for MasterCard, we are introduced to a worker named Kate. Her boss tells us she hasn't taken a vacation in five and a half years as text appears on screen reading, "50% of workers feel guilty asking for vacation days."
Kate is called into a conference room with her boss and an unknown professional looking woman who begins asking Kate about taking one day off in five years. Kate looks increasingly worried when the woman announces that "one day off is unacceptable."
As Kate's face sinks, and she turns to her boss thinking she is in trouble, the other woman announces Kate is getting a "real vacation" courtesy of MasterCard and Expedia. Kate breaks down in tears and hugs her boss.
Cue the violins.
Now we don't know for sure if this is a true story or if these are paid actors, (if so, someone get Kate and the other woman their own shows, cause they nail it!) but we are going to assume it is real life.
In which case, people are having some major issues.
Kate hasn’t taken vacation in 5 years, until we worked with @Expedia and turned an ordinary day at work into a Pric… https://t.co/zUdpRLWdQp— Mastercard (@Mastercard)1542826776.0
As much as we appreciate the warm fuzzies and we are happy Kate is finally getting her vacay, there are some serious issues here at play.
@Mastercard @Expedia Am guessing that she might be one of those American families that lives paycheck to paycheck a… https://t.co/dAVzZ2z2dZ— The Doc (@The Doc)1542981616.0
@Mastercard @Expedia This is wrong in so many ways.— Janene OKeefe (@Janene OKeefe)1543548834.0
@LucyishomeKathy @Mastercard @Expedia Ugh, her face when they told her the ONE DAY she took off was unacceptable, a… https://t.co/AAgKSOaSeO— Last Weirdo (@Last Weirdo)1543180941.0
@Mastercard @Expedia This is just sad, a sad statement on the state of work in the U.S. today. No one should have t… https://t.co/QkNGVRmcDQ— NewsMom (@NewsMom)1543887862.0
@Mastercard @Expedia Maybe you too will be lucky enough for our corporate overlords to save you from the crushing d… https://t.co/BF2hIqrr9a— Jason Wood (@Jason Wood)1543040740.0
@Mastercard @Expedia I was thinking that she looks worn out and poor looking at how she is dressed, maybe she couil… https://t.co/cQCAGOsUiW— Kathy (@Kathy)1543074740.0
@laura_zins @Mastercard @Expedia This woman looks absolutely terrified to be called in to discuss her “absenteeism… https://t.co/bcTE63HBRu— T Lee (@T Lee)1542870636.0
@Mastercard @Expedia This is disgusting.— Daiva Bhandari (@Daiva Bhandari)1543166817.0
@Mastercard @Expedia Maybe this is less a heartwarming story of random kindness and more an indictment of American… https://t.co/7vX4gY10Az— Rise of the Shield Hobbit (@Rise of the Shield Hobbit)1542891073.0
@Mastercard @Expedia How about fixing corporate America greed before patting yourself on the back for giving one pe… https://t.co/47lvzhWcwE— Kim Rees (they/she) (@Kim Rees (they/she))1542991818.0
There were lots of feelings around this.
All the wrong ones for a feel good PR piece.
@Mastercard @Expedia Ok.... the boss has known she hasn’t taken a vacation in years and finally does something abo… https://t.co/5z7ODwYpGr— UrJac (@UrJac)1542904152.0
@allioadams @CanyonCitySteve @Mastercard @Expedia Even worse. I would like to know how many weeks of vacation has taken the CEO 🤔🤔🤔....— Carlos Baylin (@Carlos Baylin)1542922999.0
@Mastercard @Expedia Hate to break it to you two, but the takeaway from this doesn’t really help your brand. Come b… https://t.co/NylvnHOvPn— wine-stained lens (@wine-stained lens)1542994956.0
@Mastercard @Expedia This is just bad management. Give her the time off and give her a raise so she can have time and money to take off.— C H R I S (@C H R I S)1543112006.0
@Mastercard @Expedia Seems like corporate culture would be to blame if your employees don't feel comfortable taking a vacation...— Laura Z (@Laura Z)1542854812.0
This is a real problem for working folks.
@Mastercard @Expedia I’m going on 11 years without a vacation. 25 year career, and one vacation so far. https://t.co/PhT5iGCZi5— James H. Dargie (@James H. Dargie)1543941167.0
@Mastercard @Expedia oh my god this poor woman. this is exploitative.— Brian Miles (@Brian Miles)1543957459.0
@Mastercard @Expedia Hmm. Bait-switching an exhausted, overworked employee like the possibility of being laid off i… https://t.co/gvOcv4h7Md— Last year's PK on clearance (@Last year's PK on clearance)1543382936.0
@Mastercard @Expedia This is kinda pathetic that it was real af when they said 1 day was unacceptable and she thought she was in trouble.— Jon Roth (@Jon Roth)1543091443.0
Kate, if you are out there, we hope when you get back from your vacation you are offered a raise.