Was there ever a moment when there wasn’t a pile there?

I mean… in the comic there is, but it’s completely unrealistic. And the size of the pile doesn’t matter if it will never be finished.

I read a study that the ideal holiday lasts for more than 8 days. One of the reasons is that if you leave for less there is usually little adjustment made to your workload, whereas if you leave longer tasks are distributed to others for that period. This will depend on your type of work and workplace though.

No vacation goes unpunished

Eh. The work will always be there tomorrow. And anytime you finish there will always be more, so it’s not worth worrying about. Take the time off to rest and recuperate and instead of focusing on how much there is, just focus on what you can do and not worry about the rest. That little mindset shift can do wonders for your mental health.

your employer stole your vacation from you then.
be sure to sue.