Requesting breaks during the Disney College Program?

[Heartless Pirate]

For those who have done it, what is Disney's policy on taking time off from work, like a few days to return home. Is it totally out of the question? Does it depend on your situation?

For me, its my grandpa. Unfortunately, he doesn't have much time left and its very possible he'll pass away while I'm in Florida. I'm sure Disney would allow me 3 days to return home right?

Now my friend on the other hand is wondering if she would be able to return home for an important sorority ceremony. Just once and just for a few days.

If it matters, I'm in merchandise and my friend hasn't been accepted yet.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that any employer is legally required to provide you with funeral leave if a relative passes away while you're employed by them. Some companies have different definitions of "relative"; for example, when my dad's mom passed away, my mom wasn't given paid time off, but I was, even though we worked at the same company. It may not be paid funeral leave, but they still have to give you the capability to attend the funeral/wake/fill-in-the-blank. Again, I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's the case. Or it may just be my experience working in unions; I really don't remember and my brain is kinda mushy right now. Too much homework.

If he does pass while you're on your CP, let your manager know as soon as you possibly can. I vaguely remember someone going home for a funeral on my last program, and I know at least two people in my department went home for a wedding. If it were something that could be planned in advance, like your friend's sorority thing, I'd say put in for the time as early as possible, but you can't really plan for death, so that's another matter.

I'm sorry your grandfather's not doing well, though. I hope that when he does go, it's peaceful (I work at a nursing home and have had four residents die in the last few weeks, so I sympathize).

 

[glendalais]

While it is the policy of The Walt Disney Company and Affiliated Companies to provide it's Employees with Bereavement Leave, it's only available to those who are statused either Casual Regular (Part Time) or Full Time.

College and International Program Participants, as well as Casual Temporary (Seasonal) Cast Members and Employees are not eligible for Paid Bereavement Leave. However, depending on Business Needs, the Company can choose to offer an ineligible Cast Member unpaid leave. This would be an issue that you would need to discuss with your Leadership Team when it arises.

As to all other types of Requests for Time Off, these would need to be submitted to the Labor Service Center. The process on how to do this is explained during the Onboarding process.

Walt Disney World Resort Labor Operations will evaluate the requests and approve or deny it based upon existing labor needs and Seniority (where applicable).

 

[kmg148]

Are you saying you want to try and visit home while he's still with us? If you talk to your leaders, you may be able to arrange that. I was able to have a week off for a study tour I had to go on with my school.

You could request a few days off through the Labor Center, and then talk to your managers about whatever was rejected (usually they won't give you all the days you want, they refuse to give you something like four in a row, so the best thing is to go home over a weekend, that way it's not four days in a week. I'm not sure they would allow this, but it worked for me).

Best of luck. The sorority thing is a seperate issue. She could talk to her managers, however I don't think they would see that as important as a family member dying.

If God forbid he passes away, they should be able to cover you to go home. There's usually people they can call in or find to take your hours or just work without you. I've seen it happen.

 

[kmg148]

Double post sorry!

 

[cat83]

I hope you won't need to, but a friend of mine had to leave for a funeral, and was given no problem by her managers.
I had to take off as well: I got pneumonia and took off 3 days, plus they arranged my two days off in a row.
(Its been a while, but when I was there, taking off anywhere from 1 to 3 days gave you the same amount of "points" against you. I'm sure they still have some kind of point system for attendance)

 

[Heartless Pirate]

Hm. I'm a bit confused. So my friend will know the exact date by the time she goes down, it will be sometime in March. She would go to the labor center? Or talk to her manager? What is the labor center and why would I go there to request a few days off and not my manager?

 

[MissRiss89]

Hm. I'm a bit confused. So my friend will know the exact date by the time she goes down, it will be sometime in March. She would go to the labor center? Or talk to her manager? What is the labor center and why would I go there to request a few days off and not my manager?

If your friend knows the exact dates she would want off, she should request the days online on The Hub through the Labor Center. You register for Hub access during your training (I think we did it during my 2nd day of training) and then right away, she would be able to go on and request time off (you'll also learn about using the Hub for requesting time off and other similar things during training.)

Since you would not be able to plan the days off you would need if you do indeed end up having to go home, you will most likely already be scheduled to work if you had to go home. Your best bet in that situation is to talk to your manager, see if there's anything that they can do, so you don't have to call in each day you miss. My friend's grandmother passed away during our CP, during a time she only had one day off that week. She went into work and spoke to a manager, who was able to give her a few days off to go home for her funeral, without her getting more than one point for calling in. Managers can usually override the Labor Center, which is why your best bet is to talk to a manager about it. You can also look to see if anyone else can pick up your shifts, but it's hard to find someone to pick up that many days when everyone usually has their own full schedule of work.

 

[glendalais]

Hm. I'm a bit confused. So my friend will know the exact date by the time she goes down, it will be sometime in March. She would go to the labor center? Or talk to her manager? What is the labor center and why would I go there to request a few days off and not my manager?

Yes, she would need to submit her request through the Labor Service Center. If her request for time off is denied, she may speak to a Leader in order to determine her options.

The Labor Service Center is an office run by Walt Disney World Resort Labor Operations (which among other things, schedules the vast majority of Front-Line Cast Members) to provide a centralised location for Cast Members to submit their Scheduling- and Labor-related questions and requests.

With most Scheduling issues being handled centrally through the Labor Service Center, Area Management is not supposed to be really dealing with routine Scheduling Requests. However, they do have the authority to alter the Schedules if they feel there is a valid reason.