What would you do??

[jessp1021]

We have a trip planned at the beginning of July that is a birthday trip for DD (this is her gift from us) and DH was informed yesterday that even though he requested off and had it approved almost a year ago that due to them being short handed if he can't find someone to cover his shift (on the weekend of the 4th) then he is no longer allowed to take his approved vacation time It isn't looking promising as he has been told no by more than a dozen (he works in LE). So I am torn, do I take DD alone (or possibly with my Mom) as it is her birthday present, OR do I postpone the trip for later in the year in hopes that DH can get off then?

 

[kathie859]

We have a trip planned at the beginning of July that is a birthday trip for DD (this is her gift from us) and DH was informed yesterday that even though he requested off and had it approved almost a year ago that due to them being short handed if he can't find someone to cover his shift (on the weekend of the 4th) then he is no longer allowed to take his approved vacation time It isn't looking promising as he has been told no by more than a dozen (he works in LE). So I am torn, do I take DD alone (or possibly with my Mom) as it is her birthday present, OR do I postpone the trip for later in the year in hopes that DH can get off then?

What a lousy turn of events! I'd ask my daughter (since it's her BD present) what she prefers to do. You can delay the trip, go with your Mom or have a Mommie/daughter trip. If a trip to Disney is a rare thing for your family, I'd probably lobby for going when DH can come; however, if you go often it's less of a big deal. I would also consider DH's feelings---Will he be hurt if you go without him?

 

[mm1971]

We have a trip planned at the beginning of July that is a birthday trip for DD (this is her gift from us) and DH was informed yesterday that even though he requested off and had it approved almost a year ago that due to them being short handed if he can't find someone to cover his shift (on the weekend of the 4th) then he is no longer allowed to take his approved vacation time It isn't looking promising as he has been told no by more than a dozen (he works in LE). So I am torn, do I take DD alone (or possibly with my Mom) as it is her birthday present, OR do I postpone the trip for later in the year in hopes that DH can get off then?

Postponing brings up issues like missing school or getting in the same situation again where they give permission and then say no later. I would say that if you DD and DH are both OK with it you should go as planned. If one or both feel they want DH to go, then reschedule when it makes the most sense. Sorry this happened. I for one would start looking for a new job (I know it's not as easy as it sounds). A company that rescinds approved time off shows little concern for it's employees. Good luck with the decision.

 

[jessp1021]

Postponing brings up issues like missing school or getting in the same situation again where they give permission and then say no later. I would say that if you DD and DH are both OK with it you should go as planned. If one or both feel they want DH to go, then reschedule when it makes the most sense. Sorry this happened. I for one would start looking for a new job (I know it's not as easy as it sounds). A company that rescinds approved time off shows little concern for it's employees. Good luck with the decision.

Oh believe me looking for a new job is the first thing I said. I still don't understand how they can approve his vacation, then 3 weeks before say nope you can't go

My fear would be that he wouldn't be able to get off later OR that he would have a new job by October and not have any vacation time accumulated. He keeps saying he wants me to go with or without him because it is her birthday present. Just a crappy thing to find out this close to our trip!

 

[pfp258]

So it sounds like this could happen anytime and his vacation is never guaranteed? Is this even legal? What if you have planned a cruise and your deposit was non refundable at this point or if you have airline tickets booked? Are you just SOL? Planning a vacation can actually cost your husband money?

 

[rachael95]

That stinks. My DH had the same thing. We wanted to go to Disney last year, company he was with told him he couldn't take off the time we planned (after approving it). Luckily, it was far enough in advance that we could cancel no problem. But that, plus couple other things, made him decide to get another job. Now we have another trip planned and we know with his new job (back where he used to work at before the other job) it won't be denied.

As for your situation, I'd involve DD. See what she thinks. Let her know the risks of it being cancelled again if it's postponed. If you go without DH, then I'd plan something else fun that is local for all of you to do and celebrate twice.

One thing though, people celebrate things all the time at Disney on dates that are not the real date. DH and I have celebrated our anniversary several times at Disney in months other than August when we got married. It's just too darn hot to go in August and we are usually too busy in August since we both work at a university.

 

[jessp1021]

So it sounds like this could happen anytime and his vacation is never guaranteed? Is this even legal? What if you have planned a cruise and your deposit was non refundable at this point or if you have airline tickets booked? Are you just SOL? Planning a vacation can actually cost your husband money?

That's what he told them as our airfare is non refundable AND non transferrable

Our state is a right to work state and I don't want him to get fired over it but I also don't want to disappoint DD either.

 

[rachael95]

That's what he told them as our airfare is non refundable AND non transferrable

That might be a reason to postpone. Usually, tickets like that, you can pay a fee to change the date/destination. If I remember right, you usually have up to a year to change it with a fee. I'd call the airline and find out what you have to do and what your options are.

If you don't postpone, maybe if you have another trip where you will be flying someplace in the next year, you could use his ticket (plus the fee) for that trip.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

We have a trip planned at the beginning of July that is a birthday trip for DD (this is her gift from us) and DH was informed yesterday that even though he requested off and had it approved almost a year ago that due to them being short handed if he can't find someone to cover his shift (on the weekend of the 4th) then he is no longer allowed to take his approved vacation time It isn't looking promising as he has been told no by more than a dozen (he works in LE). So I am torn, do I take DD alone (or possibly with my Mom) as it is her birthday present, OR do I postpone the trip for later in the year in hopes that DH can get off then?

That is just not right. If he is not in the military they do not own him. They approved the vaca already....their mistake if they didn't get someone to cover the shift. What is LE?

 

[MandiC]

Does your DD know? How old is she?
If she knows and is under 10 I'd probably go without dh. Especially since it sounds like this could happen again if you postponed. For a kid under 10 going from knowing they are going in 3 weeks to suddenly needing to wait more than 3 months...could be REALLY disappointing. If she is older or doesn't know I would consider postponing. I guess it would depend on how likely I felt it was that this same thing would happen. You could also ask her what her preference would be if she is older (if you don't think she'd feel guilty saying she wants to go right at the planned time).

 

[JAMIESMITH]

That's what he told them as our airfare is non refundable AND non transferrable

Our state is a right to work state and I don't want him to get fired over it but I also don't want to disappoint DD either.

I don't really have any suggestions, but I do know where you're coming from. Mississippi is also a right to work state and my husband was once fired from a job because his boss called him to come in at the last minute on his day off and he couldn't go because I was at work and he couldn't find a sitter for our six month old daughter.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

As a Dad it's a bummer when my work keeps me from sharing in family moments, but I'd understand and want my DS to get his birthday trip. Looking in your signature, you are frequent visitors and that would make the difference to me. I'd never want to miss one of my kids' first ever WDW experiences, but if this was a return visit with the promise of more in the future, I'd be OK sitting on the sidelines.....but I better get some great pictures!

Side note, your DH's company.....the worst!

 

[Crl1817]

This is how dh's work has always been. First he was in the Marine Corps and now he works for a firm that expects him to be available 24/7 (yes, he has taken work phone calls at Disney, worked from coffee shops with wifi access in Colorado and taken work calls on Chrismas Day). If you are game to go without him, I would do that. Because they could pull the exact same thing again. And again.

I am really sorry. I know just how much it stinks.

 

[pfp258]

Really, a job that requires 24/7 availability 365 days a year? Sounds like a prison term to me. (And perhaps over exaggerated). Really, there is no job I can think where your employer should have this kind of control over your life.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I am so sorry. Its not fair but at least you know that you have a great, unselfish DH to want your DD to not miss out. Reality is that just quitting on the spot may be a very bad idea, as tempting as it sounds. Jobs are not easy to find right now and insurance is an even bigger issue right now. I would most likely just eat the cost of his airline ticket and take grandma and call it a girls bday trip.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I am always surprised when people don't understand that things can happen and it's perfectly legal for a business to cancel a worker's approved vacation. Yes, it's disappointing, disruptive and annoying, but it happens! To suggest quitting a job over this is crazy.

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs...7/5-things-to-know-about-taking-time-off-work

OP, even with a non-refundable airline ticket, you can change the ticket. You will have to pay the change ticket fee, which is averaging $200.00 for a domestic ticket. You might want to investigate trip insurance for future trips.

 

[chris31997]

We have a trip planned at the beginning of July that is a birthday trip for DD (this is her gift from us) and DH was informed yesterday that even though he requested off and had it approved almost a year ago that due to them being short handed if he can't find someone to cover his shift (on the weekend of the 4th) then he is no longer allowed to take his approved vacation time It isn't looking promising as he has been told no by more than a dozen (he works in LE). So I am torn, do I take DD alone (or possibly with my Mom) as it is her birthday present, OR do I postpone the trip for later in the year in hopes that DH can get off then?

Like others have said: depending on age of child ask her what she would want to do, ask DH how he would feel.

What would might be kinda expensive but might save everything if he could come back and work that shift. Maybe he goes down and back for work and then down again, or joins you later/leaves early.

Really, a job that requires 24/7 availability 365 days a year? Sounds like a prison term to me. (And perhaps over exaggerated). Really, there is no job I can think where your employer should have this kind of control over your life.

Really, top one would be Military. Yes at times it feels like prison as a military spouse but most of the time our family has been exposed to things that only military families would understand and lots of other cultures.

You got Police, Medical, Firefighters many who are on shifts but are on a quick recall. Child Protective Services and 911. Then you have Prison Guards, Boarder Guards, Secret Service, the President.

There are some IT jobs on call 24/7, jobs maybe not people so it would rotate between people.

There are some humitarian/natural disaster relief jobs that on call 24/7.

I'm sure there are more jobs out there. Many jobs 24/7 are in DOD or to protect/security.

Don't discredit a job, saying it should not have this much control over your life, when you/we need many of these types of jobs daily.