{"id":"hr-pto-request-reply-balance-math","audience":"hr","category":"people-work","track":"people","level":"beginner","technique":"constraints","title":"Reply to a PTO request without approving it","free":false,"task":"Reply to Jenna's PTO request in plain text, under 100 words. First line exactly: Subject: Re: PTO for Dec 22-31. Show her balance math in one sentence (current balance plus the December accrual compared with the days she needs). Say her manager decides, not HR, and do not approve or deny. Last line exactly: Thanks, People Team. HR reviews before sending.","materialLabel":"Her request and the policy notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Email from Jenna Park (Nov 6):\n\"Hi People Team, I'd like to take Dec 22 through Dec 31 off to visit family. Can you confirm I have enough PTO? Thanks, Jenna\"\n\nPolicy notes\n- PTO is requested in the HR system and approved by the employee's manager (Luis Ortega for Jenna).\n- Jenna's current balance is 4.5 days (as of Nov 1).\n- PTO accrues 1.25 days on the first of each month, so the next accrual is Dec 1.\n- Company holidays are Dec 25 and Jan 1; holidays do not use PTO.\n- Working days in her request: Dec 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31, which is 6 days.\n- Old handbook (2022) said accrual was 1 day a month; that is no longer correct.\n- Jenna sometimes works late on Fridays; not relevant to this request.","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":130},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Wrong accrual","why":"The AI uses the old 1 day a month figure or skips the math.","fix":"Say: \"Show current balance plus the Dec 1 accrual versus the 6 days needed.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"HR approves it","why":"The AI says the request is approved or sounds final.","fix":"Say: \"Her manager decides. Do not approve or deny.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Own subject or sign-off","why":"The AI invents its own subject and closing.","fix":"Say: \"First and last lines exactly as given.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for a total word limit and it often lands over it.","fix":"Cap each part instead, for example: \"each line under 15 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Markdown","why":"The AI bolds words or adds headings.","fix":"Say: \"Plain text, no bold, no headings.\"","checks":["plainText"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Exact first and last lines","patterns":["subject: re: pto","thanks, people team"]},{"label":"Asks for the math","patterns":["math","balance"]},{"label":"Manager decides","patterns":["manager","do not approve"]},{"label":"Caps words","patterns":["under \\d+ words"]},{"label":"Plain text","patterns":["plain text"]}],"hint":"Give the exact first and last lines, ask for the balance math, and say who decides.","mission":"Show Jenna if her balance covers Dec 22-31, without deciding.","musts":["Balance plus accrual math","Manager decides","Don't approve or deny"],"rubricLabels":["The first line is exactly \"Subject: Re: PTO for Dec 22-31\" and the last line is exactly \"Thanks, People Team.\"","Shows the balance math with the current figures (4.5 plus 1.25 equals 5.75 days) and says she needs 6 days, so she would be 0.25 day short","Says her manager (Luis Ortega) decides the request and does not approve it, deny it, or say she is guaranteed enough PTO"]}