Taking a personal day question

[tvguy]

our personal days cannot be used for rest or recreation..

I've never heard of restrictions on personal days. Sounds clearly like you want the day off to do.....personal business.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I agree with everyone else that having rules about what you can do on a personal day is very odd.

My best guess is that this was put in place so that you do not have parents upset that their child had a substitute and they (the parent) saw the child's teacher hanging out at the pool (or bar, or whatever) that day. It is the only logic I can find in it. Some parents get really bent out of shape if a teacher misses days for pretty much any reason.

I think helping your DD is fine with both the letter and possible spirit of this rule. I hope things go smoothly.

 

[C.Ann]

As long as it doesn't interfere with your ability to keep your bills paid, have a roof over your head, and food on the table, "family" always comes first in my book.. If your DD needs you, then go..

The reason (if any) you choose to give to your employer is something only you can decide..

Good luck - and I hope your DD is able to find a great place!

 

[Teacher03]

I agree.

I do have to add though, that if you end up deciding a personal day doesn't feel right - don't feel guilty about that either. People apartment hunt by themselves all the time, she'll be fine!

She would be fine without me, she is very independent, but with her so far away, I miss out on the everyday things that moms do with their daughters. I would like to help her with this. I haven't seen her since June, so I miss her. I'm not sure if she can come home for Thanksgiving because she has to work awhile at her new job to earn vacation time. So it is more that I need her than she needs me!

Thanks everyone for your responses. It has really helped. And C.Ann, you are right. Family should always come first, thanks for the reminder.

 

[NMAmy]

In the school district where I work, personal days are supposed to be used for things like medical appointments, staying home with sick kids or other family members, etc. However, when you enter it into the automated absence reporting system, it just logs it as a personal day and you don't need to give an explanation.

I still think that's odd. I've worked at a couple of colleges and sick leave is used for medical appointments and for family care. At least you don't have to give an explanation for it. Now that I think of it, though, I've never worked anywhere with personal days--we get sick leave (half of which can be used for family care) and vacation leave.

 

[Luv2Scrap]

Take it and don't feel guilty. Call it a mental health day. It may mean you can't be as chatty with your coworker's but I have a hard time with needing to explain "personal". There are lots of reasons to take a dayoff that I would not to explain. This isn't one of them but I wouldn't give a reason just on principle.

I totally get what you're saying, but I definitely wouldn't call it a mental health day to anybody that matters. To the powers that be, that would be considered "rest".

 

[Where'sPiglet?]

This thread is making me more grateful for my school's absence policy. We get 80 hours of leave. Our work day is 8 hours, so this is the equivalent of 1 day per month (10 months of school). We can use the 10 in increments of as short as 15 minutes, and they are not designated as sick or personal or anything...we can use them as we wish. They do not carry over, but you get paid out the balance at the end of each school year. I it!

 

[Green Tea]

Hauling boxes and futons up flights of steps really isn't fun or recreation I think you're safe!

 

[Tinijocaro]

I'm a teacher and inour district, personal days ar for tending to business that cannot be taken care of after work hours. This would include apartment hunting. I think you are just fine and don't need to talk to the principal.

Are you sure you don't want to save the personal day for move-in day? Seems like dd would really need you then.

 

[cocodog]

I'd take the day without pay.

 

[DebbieB]

My job went from different categories of days off to a PTO system about 5 years ago. I guess it works out better, you don't get into discussions if days qualify or not. We used to get into that regarding the family care days we used to have.

 

[LisaR]

Do they give you sick days, as well? What is their policy with that? I am just curious if they stipulate that you can't use your sick days for fevers or vomiting!

 

[onelilspark]

I would just take the day. I don't think it's particularly recreation (it's not like you're going to be out on a boat, right?) and it's not rest as you'll be active. So really, no reason to feel guilty!

Speaking as someone who now lives far away from my parents, it was very nice when my Mom came up to help me set up my apartment when I first moved away. I didn't need her there, but it was nice to have some help...especially with buying furniture, I would have wound up without lamps otherwise

 

[tlbwriter]

I would say you're taking care of some business. It's true, and it's neither rest nor relaxation (also, I think that's a ridiculous policy!)

 

[tvguy]

Do they give you sick days, as well? What is their policy with that? I am just curious if they stipulate that you can't use your sick days for fevers or vomiting!

I'm in California. We can't even ASK what the issue is here, violates privacy law. And when I put out the e-mail to staff, even if the person says WHY they are sick, I can't put that out, nor can I say they are "sick". Just that they are "out". They sort that all out with the business office when they get back to work. (HR was the first thing cut when the economy tanked)
Now, if you are out 5 consecutive days, they WILL ask for a doctor's note, but that's because after 5 days being sick, even if you have sick time left and move you from sick time to short term disability. A lot of folks say that's so the compnay can get out of paying you additional sick time, but since we only get 7 sick days a year, I truly think it's so you WILL get paid after your sick time is used up.