Work Problem, What Would You Do?

[Mickeyistheman]

I've read the whole post and I am glad that it all worked out, but I have to disagree with the OP. I think you were upset that she went above you and asked the Supervisor before you. Now since it is her wedding, not sure if it her first or second. It seems to me she asked but she didn't ask you.

I think that might be what you are upset about.

I do understand from your postings that she was hired to cover you, but does that mean she has NO vacation time at all?

I understand about Seniority beleive me I was working at a company for 10 years and finally getting the vacation time that I wanted. But for someone's Wedding whether it be their 1st or 15th that is not fair to them for you to pass judgement.

She also might have only had that time or that week available at the church or hall or whatever. I also do understand working for a small company, which I did for 10 years but it was a You snooze you lose and everything was in writing. Sometimes we would switch because we could, but I just sense that you are really bent out of shape about it.

You were the bigger person, even if her job performance is poor but if she is still employed then she should still be able to have her vacation time.

Again, glad it worked out and you and your family still have your vacation cottage as well.

 

[mommanne]

I've read the whole post and I am glad that it all worked out, but I have to disagree with the OP. I think you were upset that she went above you and asked the Supervisor before you. Now since it is her wedding, not sure if it her first or second. It seems to me she asked but she didn't ask you.

I think that might be what you are upset about.

I do understand from your postings that she was hired to cover you, but does that mean she has NO vacation time at all?

I understand about Seniority beleive me I was working at a company for 10 years and finally getting the vacation time that I wanted. But for someone's Wedding whether it be their 1st or 15th that is not fair to them for you to pass judgement.

She also might have only had that time or that week available at the church or hall or whatever. I also do understand working for a small company, which I did for 10 years but it was a You snooze you lose and everything was in writing. Sometimes we would switch because we could, but I just sense that you are really bent out of shape about it.

You were the bigger person, even if her job performance is poor but if she is still employed then she should still be able to have her vacation time.

Again, glad it worked out and you and your family still have your vacation cottage as well.

It's not that she went above me and asked her supervisor, because her supervisor had to ask me and if I'd said no, it would have been no and that would have been the end of it. I don't want to be that way, so it became a problem for me. I want to do the right thing for everyone involved.

I get three weeks of vacation so she's entitled to vacation time in any other week out of the 49 weeks that I'm not on vacation. This is the third time she's interfered with my requested vacation time. Does that strike you as a coincidence?

This is her first wedding as far as I know. I do know that it's a very small wedding, but it doesn't matter whether it's the first wedding or if it's a big wedding. It's a wedding and I respect that, so I did switch my vacation weeks.

My issue is, it's not the first time she's done this. I've gone out of my way to be accomodating when in reality, I don't have to. She seems to like "winning" in these stupid situations, if that makes any sense. When do I start saying no, if she does end up staying with the company?

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I might have missed those other posts where she had done this to you before. The only one I saw where you could not take a day off was for Thanksgiving because you had to prepare the day before. If there was another one I did not see it.

BUT, the past 2 years you were able to vacation, now this is her wedding, and you beleive to be her first. How would you feel, if you knew that the only time they could get the church or place they wanted to have the cermony etc was during your regular vacation? I think that is why she didn't ask you because she did KNOW and you would have gotten upset with her and told her no.

She did go above your head, but I would have too, seeing how upset you did get initially, because YOU felt put out, how dare she put her wedding above YOUR vacation.

That is my point and I can understand how it feels to go the same time every year and see the same people, would I be a bit bummed yes, but at the same time its a special occasion for her. I truly don't feel it was done to spite you at all.

But again, glad it all worked out.

It also is not fair to either of you about this situation even if she is your back-up in regards to work. There should ALWAYS be someone else should an emergency situation come up. Which I do beleive a few fellow posters noted as well.

 

[waltsgirl]

You say someone has to be in the office and that both of you can't be off. What happens if the backup has to have surgery, has complications and ends up being off for extended period of time. Would you not be able to take your 3 weeks of vacation?

All this talk about getting the woman fired. I mean really...all I can say is I am glad I don't work with any of you!

 

[mommanne]

You say someone has to be in the office and that both of you can't be off. What happens if the backup has to have surgery, has complications and ends up being off for extended period of time. Would you not be able to take your 3 weeks of vacation?

All this talk about getting the woman fired. I mean really...all I can say is I am glad I don't work with any of you!

Oh, brother!

I don't want to get the woman fired. That's why I didn't tell the big boss, and why I switched my weeks. If I hadn't done so and the big boss found out I was in this situation, he probably would have fired her. I don't want that.

If I had vacation planned and the co-worker had to have emergency surgery and/or extended time off, I'd probably have to miss my vacation and send the family without me.

I wasn't talking about emergency surgery, I was talking about a co-worker who made plans 8 months out without clearing having time off. There is a difference.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

If you were approved to have the day before Thanksgiving off and she refused to come to work that day, why wasn't she fired on the spot? There is no way one of our employees would be able to return to a job if they refused to come to work one day.

 

[mommanne]

If you were approved to have the day before Thanksgiving off and she refused to come to work that day, why wasn't she fired on the spot? There is no way one of our employees would be able to return to a job if they refused to come to work one day.

I didn't tell anyone, I just worked the day. She was brand new at the company and I didn't want to start trouble for her. Unfortunately it seems that I set a precedent.

I'm starting to sound like a martyr and I promise you, I'm not. Being my backup isn't an easy job and I do appreciate what she does. Having my boss covered is my ultimate responsibility and I've tried to make it all go smoothly.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

How was she able to get the day before Thanksgiving off if she was a new employee? Our employees don't get vacation time until they have been working for us for a year. That was very generous of your company to allow her a day off if she just started.

 

[mommanne]

She'd started in July and did start accruing one day per month of vacation time at her start date. I consider a few months of time at the company brand new, only because I only had started that past April. Most people at our company have been there for 10 plus years, so we're both newbies.

My job is tough and backing me up is tough, so I wanted to be nice.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

If I had asked for a specific day off, like the day before Thanksgiving, and I planned on having 20 people over, then a newly hired person told me they refused to work that day, I would have no problem having her fired.

 

[mommanne]

If I had asked for a specific day off, like the day before Thanksgiving, and I planned on having 20 people over, then a newly hired person told me they refused to work that day, I would have no problem having her fired.

And there you go, hence my dilemma. I've tried to be understanding and tried to be a nice person, and this is where it's gotten me today.

 

[Mary Anne]

I work in HR.... this is what I would suggest. (I'm not sure if this was suggested as I didn't read the whole thread, but if it was consider my answer 100% in agreement.) Buy a calendar... (2 year one would be good). Once you know your set vacaton time/dates Fill them in. Let her know you have asked and been granted these days. She now knows what days YOU have picked and then let her know that you cannot change your plans and she should not expect any special accomodations. If she asks again, send her into the big boss. Worse case your boss will make you change the first time (although you already have so that should solve that problem) the second time she requests you to make a change your boss will actuall SEE the whole picture and it will be up to her/him to handle it. It takes you out of the picture.

Good luck.

 

[mommanne]

Thanks Mary Anne, that sounds like a good plan.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

Now, you had been talking about Senority.

If you started in April and she started in July of the same year. That is only 2 months longer you worked there, for you to pull the "Senority Card" I think is a bit much. Also you seem to forget that she DID for 2 years in a row cover so you can take your "Regular Vacation"

I think you were being unreasonable about this whole situation.

However if she did call in the day before Thanksgiving and say she wasn't coming in to work, she doesn't have to give a reason. Something could have come up. It just seems to me that you expect her to just bow down for you. I understand she covers for you, but I think you are taking advantage of a situation and not being fair.

I do think you need to take a step back and look at it.

 

[npmommie]

It also is not fair to either of you about this situation even if she is your back-up in regards to work. There should ALWAYS be someone else should an emergency situation come up. Which I do beleive a few fellow posters noted as well.

I agree with this. If I were you I would have a sit down with the supervisors, it is unfair for both of you to not have coverage if you both need the same time off. I understand she is your coverage.......but still. What kind of work do you do anyway?
I am sure there is some way they could have coverage in the event you both need off.
and this is a perfect example. she needs off during your vacation for her wedding, in my opinion the bosses should have a plan to cover her.

 

[nordkin]

Now, you had been talking about Senority.

If you started in April and she started in July of the same year. That is only 2 months longer you worked there, for you to pull the "Senority Card" I think is a bit much. Also you seem to forget that she DID for 2 years in a row cover so you can take your "Regular Vacation"

I think you were being unreasonable about this whole situation.

However if she did call in the day before Thanksgiving and say she wasn't coming in to work, she doesn't have to give a reason. Something could have come up. It just seems to me that you expect her to just bow down for you. I understand she covers for you, but I think you are taking advantage of a situation and not being fair.

I do think you need to take a step back and look at it.

Seniority is seniority, even if it is one day. My company does vacation based on seniority and one day counts. There are employees here who have not been able to take time around the holidays for 20 years because others have more seniority. I also think this has escalated to the point that it is up to the boss to intervine and make the decision as to who is off or how to cover it if both are allowed off. This type of thing should never be left to the two individuals involved when there is a conflict. I, as a supervisor, have had to handle situations like this several times over the years and there is no way to make everyone happy.

 

[chamonix]

If I were you, I would make sure to inform the boss in writing--and have him/her sign it--approving the dates of your regular weeks off in August of next year....because I can guarantee you that she will want to take days off during that time next year...because now it's her anniversary. (her first anniversary too, lol)

 

[aprilgail2]

Seniority is seniority, even if it is one day. My company does vacation based on seniority and one day counts. There are employees here who have not been able to take time around the holidays for 20 years because others have more seniority. .

Our holidays run on seniority just as vacations do. I had to work my first 12 Christmas's, Thanksgivings and 4th of Julys there, now I can get off every holiday I want. But as far as seniority goes, we are hired in groups of 10-15 and your seniority goes by date you start but since we all star together it goes as far as going in ABC order- so since I am at the end of the alphabet I am 2nd to last in my class. So if it comes down to John Jones that was hired the same date as me wanting the holiday off and me wanting it off he would get it and I would not.

 

[mommanne]

I am executive assistant to the division president, she is the administrative assistant to the division. Either she or I must be outside the president's office at all times. When she was hired, she was told that she'd have to be my backup at all times. She was also hired to assist me, but I can't give her any work because she screws it all up. She gets very little work from anyone in the division because she screws it all up and couldn't care less. When I'm away from my desk she's supposed to stay put until I get back, but half the time I come back from the ladies room and she's not there. Meanwhile my boss's phone is going into voice mail and that's not supposed to happen, ever.

I clarified with HR today that even without the time seniority issue, I have positional seniority. I get first choice of vacation times. It's just the way it is at my company.

I spoke with her supervisor today and told her I'd switched my vacation weeks, and explained that I will not be making changes to my vacation choices again, especially when my vacations are planned so far in advance and she's made aware of them.

In the day before Thanksgiving episide, I told her two weeks in advance I was taking the Wednesday off. She told me she wasn't going to work that day either. She was new and I was trying to be accomodating. She was having a rough time assimilating into the company and I wanted to give her a break.

Last year, I'd had my vacation scheduled for months and a week prior to my leaving, she said she had to have that one day off. It was a huge imposition and it cost me a lot of money, but I gave her the day. I never even got a thank you, but whatever. Oh, and I found out she needed the vacation time because she'd gone to our Charlotte office to apply for a position there. Nice!!!

This time, she planned a wedding without clearing whether the vacation time was available to her. She just expected that I'd work around it, and I'm positive she knew that was my scheduled vacation time.

In her position, you don't just declare your vacation. You need to clear it. I have to clear it with the president, only. I got forwarded the email chain where she requested the vacation of her supervisor, and her supervisor told her to clear it with me. That's where this whole thing started.

Her supervisor agreed that what she did was wrong, and thanked me for changing my weeks. I reiterated that this is never going to happen again.

And for the record, I told her two weeks ago that I am hosting a business lunch on Friday, January 18, and I will be out of the office from 12-2. She can either take an early or late lunch, or put in for overtime. I go to lunch approximately 4 times a year, and they're business lunches only.

Guess who told me today she's taking January 18 as a vacation day? Her supervisor, EVP of the division, will be covering for my lunch.

 

[MELSMICE]

And for the record, I told her two weeks ago that I am hosting a business lunch on Friday, January 18, and I will be out of the office from 12-2. She can either take an early or late lunch, or put in for overtime. I go to lunch approximately 4 times a year, and they're business lunches only.

Guess who told me today she's taking January 18 as a vacation day? Her supervisor, EVP of the division, will be covering for my lunch.

Good luck to you. It sounds to me like anything you do or any time off you take is going to met with some kind of obstacle.