How should I ask for time off from work?

[polarmystery]

"I'm sick"

 

[alkemyst]

You say "I know this is really short notice, but there is an alumni event next Wednesday that I really would like to go to. I should have asked earlier, but it slipped my mind. Is there any way I can have the day off? If that would put a strain on work here, maybe I can just leave at 4pm if that's at all possible."

I can't believe you really need advise for this. Don't make this into a habit, I cannot believe this is so important that you didn't ask off more than a week ahead of time.

QFT...it's not like they planned this thing at the last minute.

Normally when I need time off I send an email to my boss with the request as an Outlook reminder. For personal days, I am expecting to take them regardless. For vacation, I am more flexible.

 

[olds]

"Sup bitch, time off?"

 

[Krazy4Real]

Ask if you can go in early and leave early. Not a big deal.

 

[rcpratt]

Jesus Christ, is this really that big of a deal? If it were me, I would just let me boss I was leaving an hour early because I know it isn't a big deal around here. If an hour off is really that critical, just go a half hour late.

 

[jiggahertz]

What kind of job are we talking about? Every job I've had post-college as well as internships no one "asks" for the day off. They'll email their supervisor and people they work with that they'll be gone such and such days. If someone sent out an email that they were leaving an hour early people would laugh and think wtf cares? I guess this does not apply if it's some service related job.

 

[spidey07]

It will reflect poorly on you by showing you are are not willing to work your full day at such a new job and value some alumni event over your job. This is not the kind of 1st impression you want to make. Best move you can make is work your full day, 2nd best is asking if it would be possible to leave an hour early and you'll make up that hour on tuesday or thursday by working late, worst idea ever would be to ask for the day off - that could be a career ender.

In many places there is a probationary period and you are not allowed any days off or hours, if you do, you're canned. If you asked me for the hour or the day I'd say "You're know you're still on probation, right? Are you prepared for the consequences of your decision?"

 

[IndyColtsFan]

As others have said, don't take the day off. Just ask if you can come in early and leave at 4:00 instead. Or, just skip the alumni event. You've only been there a week and probably shouldn't be making requests for something like that. I mean seriously, it is an alumni event and isn't that important.

 

[Kirby]

do the needful

 

[Azraele]

Why on earth would you need to take a full day for an event that doesn't start until that evening?

 

[JulesMaximus]

I would not ask for the entire day off. Just ask if you can leave early if it is THAT important to you. Honestly, I would probably skip it though.

 

[Daedalus685]

Where the hell do you people work that a boss would care enough to even speak to you about wanting to leave an hour early some time next week...

I believe it will go down something like this:

You: "I need to leave at 4 next Wednesday, I've marked it on the schedule."

Boss: "Ok"

If it happened any other way I'd have to wonder why you work there in the first place... Unless you are trying to skip out on a meeting or work in the military... Just take it off vacation time or come in an hour early...

I can't recall ever having a boss that would care if I told him that morning i was leaving an hour early... Big bloody deal so long as work got done and it wasn't a weekly thing..

 

[Jadow]

we're not talking about our situations, we're talking about his, first week on the job, etc...

 

[JulesMaximus]

we're not talking about our situations, we're talking about his, first week on the job, etc...

This

 

[Daedalus685]

we're not talking about our situations, we're talking about his, first week on the job, etc...

I suppose.. but it seems like everyone is giving their advice based on experience..

Even so.. he started last week and needs an hour off what would be three weeks later. I woudl be floored if any boss cared at all.

 

[lsquare]

Ok, so I took the advice that you guys gave me and asked if I can leave early by starting work early. Now I regret ever asking him this question. Basically he said no I cannot leave work early regardless of whether I start early or not. He look shocked when I asked him this question and I felt so stupid for even trying to ask. Fuck, I'm like so paranoid about whether I might have damaged my prospects at advancement in the company.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Ok, so I took the advice that you guys gave me and asked if I can leave early by starting work early. Now I regret ever asking him this question. Basically he said no I cannot leave work early regardless of whether I start early or not. He look shocked when I asked him this question and I felt so stupid for even trying to ask. Fuck, I'm like so paranoid about whether I might have damaged my prospects at advancement in the company.

Turn up to your dumb event an hour late.

 

[lsquare]

You say "I know this is really short notice, but there is an alumni event next Wednesday that I really would like to go to. I should have asked earlier, but it slipped my mind. Is there any way I can have the day off? If that would put a strain on work here, maybe I can just leave at 4pm if that's at all possible."

I can't believe you really need advise for this. Don't make this into a habit, I cannot believe this is so important that you didn't ask off more than a week ahead of time.

When was it ever wrong to ask people for advice when I clearly don't have such experience in my life? Of course it would have been better to ask way in advance, but I made the mistake of not doing so. Do I regret it? Of course and now I have my regrets.

 

[guyver01]

Fuck, I'm like so paranoid about whether I might have damaged my prospects at advancement in the company.

chances are... yes.. you have.

considering you JUST STARTED last week.. and now you're asking for a schedule modification?

 

[lsquare]

Where the hell do you people work that a boss would care enough to even speak to you about wanting to leave an hour early some time next week...

I believe it will go down something like this:

You: "I need to leave at 4 next Wednesday, I've marked it on the schedule."

Boss: "Ok"

If it happened any other way I'd have to wonder why you work there in the first place... Unless you are trying to skip out on a meeting or work in the military... Just take it off vacation time or come in an hour early...

I can't recall ever having a boss that would care if I told him that morning i was leaving an hour early... Big bloody deal so long as work got done and it wasn't a weekly thing..

I hate to surprise you with the bad news, but I got rejected. I don't want to go into details on what the entire conversation with my boss was like, but I'm shocked, disappointed, and feeling paranoid right now.

 

[lsquare]

we're not talking about our situations, we're talking about his, first week on the job, etc...

Thx for being one of the few people that seems to understand the original post. It doesn't seem like AT have enough rational people like you.

 

[guyver01]

Where the hell do you people work that a boss would care enough to even speak to you about wanting to leave an hour early some time next week...

Just take it off vacation time or come in an hour early...

I can't recall ever having a boss that would care if I told him that morning i was leaving an hour early...

See... this response show's the difference between people that work at McDonalds... and people who work in real jobs.

McDonalds = "come.. go... whatever...."

Real Job = "You just got hired and you want to change your schedule? Fuck no!"

 

[lsquare]

chances are... yes.. you have.

considering you JUST STARTED last week.. and now you're asking for a schedule modification?

Yea, that's what my gut feeling is telling me. God this is so stupid. I should never have asked. I should have just kept my mouth shut and just worked. I guess this is going to be another one of those life lessons.

 

[quakefiend420]

Ok, so I took the advice that you guys gave me and asked if I can leave early by starting work early. Now I regret ever asking him this question. Basically he said no I cannot leave work early regardless of whether I start early or not. He look shocked when I asked him this question and I felt so stupid for even trying to ask. Fuck, I'm like so paranoid about whether I might have damaged my prospects at advancement in the company.

wow, glad i don't work at your company

 

[goog40]

What do you do at your job? If you not being there the last hour means someone else would have to adjust their schedule to cover for that time period, then I could see why the boss would be against it. If it doesn't matter when you're working as long as your work gets done, then your boss is just being a dick.