Vacations and new job

[mousetravel]

I'm just wondering what some of your experiences have been if you have a vacation paid and planned for, and getting a new job. Do you cancel your vacation for fears of what the new boss might say? Do you tell the manager that you have this vacation planned upon being hired?

 

[MommaSue]

I would tell them during the interview/hiring process when you discuss when the start date would be. At that point I would say that I was available to start on xxxxx day, but would require xxxxx days off as my family had a vacation planned.

That way everything would be up front and you wouldn't be dropping it on them after you were hired and run the risk of them refusing to give you the time off.

That being said, if it looked like your vacation may prevent them from hiring you, you need to have already decided if the job is important enough to postpone or cancel the trip.

 

[minkydog]

I agree with the above. Tell them upfront that you have a vacation scheduled and ask if that would pose a problem. But only if you can live with the possibility that they might withdraw the offer. Under no circumstances would I spring this on the employer in a few weeks. They might very well terminate you,especially if you are still in your orientation period.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

I agree that the vacation should be brought up during the interview process or discussion of your start date. We have had this happen with us and it's never been a problem, we've always still hired the person if that was our original intention. I would much rather know that you had a vacation planned for say December if we hired you now than have you put in for vacation 2 weeks prior since you have known about it all along. Chances are if you put in for vacation that soon after being hired (and it wasn't discussed when you were hired) the vacation days would be denied anyway.

 

[Nette]

I wouldn't bring it up until AFTER they make an offer. I've done this multiple times (I'm the world's worst at timing). After they make an offer and before I accept I bring it up. I also state that I am willing to cancel if it is absolutely necessary. So far, it's never been a problem. And at only one job have I had to take the leave unpaid.

 

[teskak]

Sorry but I have to chime in the opposite views.

What happens if the vacation time you have booked is over Xmas week or another very popular holiday time - that existing staff have already booked (and or been denied for).

I recall a few threads where there is tension in the office because some person books all of the 'good' times and leaves nothing for the rest of the office - how are they going to feel if the new person comes in and is perceived to snag one of the good times.

Vacation time is good and necessary - BUTyou are dealing with people and thier first impressions of the new person, is it really worth it? Delay start times, probably ok. Vacation during busy period - ie Xmas week when the job is in retail - really dumb. Vacation during school breaks when they have already been booked by others - will cause friction.

 

[snykymom]

Sorry but I have to chime in the opposite views.

What happens if the vacation time you have booked is over Xmas week or another very popular holiday time - that existing staff have already booked (and or been denied for).

I recall a few threads where there is tension in the office because some person books all of the 'good' times and leaves nothing for the rest of the office - how are they going to feel if the new person comes in and is perceived to snag one of the good times.

Vacation time is good and necessary - BUTyou are dealing with people and thier first impressions of the new person, is it really worth it? Delay start times, probably ok. Vacation during busy period - ie Xmas week when the job is in retail - really dumb. Vacation during school breaks when they have already been booked by others - will cause friction.

But the friction is for management to deal with, not the employee. And if management can't give you the time off, for political or other reasons, they'll tell you.

I'd bring it up between offer and acceptance. After all, if you don't get the job, the issue is moot anyway. And I'd be willing to take the time unpaid, or, if the job is important enough, forgo the vacation.

 

[Cindy B]

When I interviewed for my current job, I was told during the interview that NO vacations can be scheduled for the entire time of 7 month training. The hiring off even said "you will be fired if you take a vacation". She even stated that one interviewee was getting married during that time frame that it was "too bad she wouldn't get the job".

Personally I wouldn't do it.

 

[AKL_Megs]

Back in December 2004, I started a new job. I already had a January WDW trip planned.

I told my hiring manager about the vacation immediately... actually, part of the interview process was a question, "Do you have any upcomming vacations that we should know about?" So basically, I told her about it before I was even offered the job.

When I was hired, I reminded her. I ended up taking my vacation no problems.

 

[manning]

There are companies who have a no paid vacation the first year policy.

 

[kilee]

I agree that during the offer and acceptance period should be suitable. After you already start I think would be out of line. I don't think it's necessary during the interview, you may not get hired.

If you do it during the offer/acceptance discussion, you are giving them an out. My sister is going through the same thing w/ being pregnant. She is only 3 months but looking for a new job. We just had this discussion, and pretty much everyone agreed she didn't need to disclose it during the interview, but that she should during the offer so they can retract their offer if they want.

 

[lillygator]

Sorry but I have to chime in the opposite views.

What happens if the vacation time you have booked is over Xmas week or another very popular holiday time - that existing staff have already booked (and or been denied for).

I recall a few threads where there is tension in the office because some person books all of the 'good' times and leaves nothing for the rest of the office - how are they going to feel if the new person comes in and is perceived to snag one of the good times.

Vacation time is good and necessary - BUTyou are dealing with people and thier first impressions of the new person, is it really worth it? Delay start times, probably ok. Vacation during busy period - ie Xmas week when the job is in retail - really dumb. Vacation during school breaks when they have already been booked by others - will cause friction.

I would simply tell them during the interview/hiring process.....

There are companies who have a no paid vacation the first year policy.

goodness.....I am so glad I have never had to work for any of those companies!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

DH has actually done this twice--we had vacations scheduled before he changed jobs. He was upfront and mentioned it during the interview process. I can see waiting until after getting an offer, but understand that it may be a deal-breaker for the company. I would recommend saying that you'd be willing to postpone or cancel the trip--I'm sure you don't want to, bu tin this job climate, you want to be seen as a good job prospect.

In both cases, DH took the time off without pay. I can't imagine a company giving you PAID vacation just a few months after you start, but it would depend on the comapny's vacation policy, I guess. Certainly, we would never expect that he'd get paid.

I also agree with looking at the overall picture for the company--if they have busy seasons and you want to vacation during that time, it's probably not going to be allowed.

 

[Angelhalo]

I wait until I am offered the job. I accept the job, then I tell them that I have a vacation planned, and give them the dates. no one has ever had a problem with it.

 

[bicker]

I'm with Nett and Angel... get the job first, then negotiate for the time off. They cannot "do" anything to you for asking for the time off and the worst that could happen is that they say no and you have to cancel.

 

[mousetravel]

Thanks for the advice so far. I wanted to give a little more details. I am in the process of looking for a new job. Our church has a mission trip planned for next year, if that info helps anyone give me advice on this situation.

I wouldn't expect for a company to provide me with a paid vacation, especially in the first year of employment. And it would be impossible to re schedule, as this is an arranged trip.

 

[Lassie Lynne]

I just got a job a couple of months ago, and I had a planned trip for December to WDW. I was asked in the interview/offer process if I had any Summer Vacation plans, which I replied that I had planned on going in December, but could re-schedule or cancel if that was a problem. We agreed to vacation in January, but unpaid since I will not been there a year.

This day and age, I have not heard of many jobs (unless they are very upper end ones) that give paid a vacation week BEFORE a year. You are lucky if you get one that lets you start accruing after you are hired on a monthly/paycheck basis.

I think if you are honest and forthcoming when they get serious about you, then things should be fine.....good luck on the job search!

 

[FireDancer]

When I started my current job I had a three week trip planned before I interviewed. It was for the two weeks before I was to start and the first week they wanted me to work. I told them ahead of time that I had the trip planned and they just had me start a week later. They didn't pay me of course and I didn't expect them to.

I have input on hiring in my department and if the person I really wanted for the job had a trip planned, provided it wasn't too long, I wouldn't let that change my mind. I would rather have the employee I want and suck it up for a week or two than hire someone else and have to live with the second best candidate. At the same time if they aren't willing to work with you then you have to make the same decision, is taking the trip worth taking a job you don't want as much.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hubby has done this once or twice...but I think both times he's done it at the company he just keeps on going back to, and he knows their lovely policies, and knows that he starts accruing immediately, knows that they let you take vacation days in advance, etc etc. It's a good company to work for (even if they've laid him off once and closed his department another time), so he feels safe telling them.

He just did it this time...started back there end of July, and is taking a couple days off for my b'day (see sig)...absolutely no problem. Of course, he's been on an overseas business trip since the 18th and has not had a single day off while there, working until midnight his time at least half the nights, so his boss is even going to work out several other casual paid days off ot make up for it (so my b'day trip might not even dip into his paid vacation time).

Anyway, not everyone keeps going back to old companies (they'd get the hint the first time, LOL), but still, there are good companies out there...this situation, fi you think about it, lets you know what sort of company it will be to work for.