What Would You Have Done? (work/vacation related)(kinda long post...)

[Chattyaholic]

I've worked at the same place 8 years and it's always been "policy" to let our boss know, a month ahead of time (as she writes the schedules up monthly) when we want to take any vacation time and she just won't put us on the schedule. That is one thing I love about my job, the flexibility.

Well, DH and I have rented a cabin in the U.P. along with my parents (we have a cabin and they have one next to us) and we spoke for these cabins months ago. June 30th I gave my note to my employer, telling her I needed Aug. 21 - Sept. 4 off. She said she "couldn't spare me" the last two weeks of August. She said at most places you have to speak for vacation months ahead of time (well, yes, if that is the policy but as I said earlier this is NOT the way it has always been done and she's never said anything about changing it). She fussed at me about taking two weekends off already this year. One weekend I found others to cover my shifts so she didn't have to do anything (as the schedule was already up) and the other weekend I told her in plenty of time. She wanted to argue with me that I took a "week's vacation" that time, and I said "no, I took my regular four days off (every other week I have Monday - Thursday off so always try to incorporate those into any "vacation time" I might want) then only took the weekend off.

She then asked me if there was any way I could switch to two weeks earlier? I told her I would try but was very doubtful I would be able to, as I figured they would have already rented out all the cabins for the summer. So, the next morning I called and lo and behold he could switch us for two weeks early, but NOT the cabins we originally wanted. I decided to go ahead and switch, but I really wonder what she would have done if I would have told her I couldn't. I just wonder if it would have been my job or my vacation. I would have cancelled the vacation as it definitely is not worth my job. But, since I gave her 7 week's notice, I felt I gave her ample time to cover me. I guess from now on, any "big" vacation (like the cabin, or WDW or a cruise) I will tell her BEFORE we make the plan!!

Kind of irritated me though, since I did follow "policy" and now we can't have the original cabins we wanted so I'm kind of bummed about that too.

What would YOU have done in this situation?

 

[LuvTigger]

That's a tough one...I've never been in the position before of potentially having my vacation denied!

I'm thinking that if you have the kind of relationship with your boss where you can just go in and talk to her, that you go in and politely ask for clarification on the policy, and explain that it was your understanding that you only needed to provide a month's notice.

If you can work it in in a nice way (remember to keep the tone up-beat or at least mellow and not to sound confrontational), mention that you had the plans for a while but didn't realize it would be a problem, and that's why you didn't give the notice until last week.

When you first go in, you could say you wanted to discuss the vacation issue because you didn't mean for it to cause any scheduling problems (which is true), and you just wanted to make sure you understand the policy.

Then, take it from there depending on what she says.

After this incident, I think you're right in that you should probably mention it as soon as you start planning and cover all your bases. Hopefully this was a one time incident, but I've seen situations where the "policy" is not always what was actually followed.

Good luck and keep us updated if you decide to talk to her!

 

[Cinders]

I think I would have told her the cabins were already reserved and paid for and you could not change your dates. But that you would try to find someone as equally qualified as you to work those days.

DH works for a small family business and was the first employee but you'd think he was asking for the world to take a full week of vacation time. Even though he gets 2 weeks paid vacation per year. The last 2 years he hasn't taken all his time off because the boss has a fit everytime he wants a full week off......yet the boss will go to Atlanta, Florida or whereever at the drop of a hat and leave DH in charge. Last year we were in Michigan on a mini vacation and DH still had customers (he's an electrician) calling him about jobs. During Thanksgiving weekend we were in Michigan again and he had numerous calls from customers. This year I went down to his office and used a red Sharpie marker and wrote VACATION across the week we are going to FL in December. I think DH needs to accidently forget his cell phone at work on the 16th too.

 

[totalia]

*shrugs* If I'm planning a vacation I tell them six months in advance. It makes things alot easier on everyone, ESPECIALLY during the summer.

Did it occur to you that others may be taking that time off too? Did you expect your boss to be able to cover for everyone's holidays?

She doesn't want to be short handed. Thats why summer vacations need to be booked far in advance.

Flexibility is good but you can only have so much of it before it becomes too much.

Sucks you have to change it but oh well. That's life.

 

[RUDisney]

I try to be a very accommodating boss, but sometimes, especially when it comes to vacations, I can't be.

The one thing I tell all of my new employees is that they should always clear their vacations with me before they book anything. This year, even though he was told, one of my employees picked a week, paid for his flight and accommodations, etc., before he picked his dates.

This put me in a pickle because the person with the most seniority also picked the same week. He'd have changed it for the other guy, but he's going on vacation with his ILs and their plans were also booked.

Luckily, for him and me, I was able to swing having two additional summer employees that are working out beautifully, so both of them can take their vacations. This was a big lesson to everyone in the department, though... you always confirm with work first.

Heck, if I have to confirm things with my boss first, they should have to also.

I've also been in the situation twice where my Dad's company was having their annual picnic at an amusement park the same time two other managers were taking off in my division. We always work to keep 2 of us there at all times. So, two years in a row, my parents took my kids for the day and I went to work. Last year was the first time I was able to go... it was also my Dad's last year with that company, so it won't pose any type of issue this year.