How should I ask for time off from work?

[guyver01]

My wife, for starters.

after 1 week? what did she accrue? 2 minutes?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

When I joined my current job, I had to take a few days off for a white water rafting trip and misc in the first month. Since I was new and had no vacation days yet, I had to borrow from my future vacation days. Nobody seemed to mind.

My advice is that when you start a new job and have a vacation in the first few months already planned or paid for, ALWAYS mention that during your salary negotiations and make sure you get it approved. When I first started my current job, I had already purchased plane tickets and hotel reservations for a vacation that was to occur about 4 weeks after I started. I made sure that before I accepted the offer, the employer knew about the vacation, was OK with it, and approved it.

It is much better mentioning this up front and getting their blessing than to go in after you've been there a few days and say "By the way, I need 7 to 10 days off in a couple of weeks." Because in the negotiation phase, you have some power and most things are fair game; after you start though, you're at their mercy.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

after 1 week? what did she accrue? 2 minutes?

They get all of their time upfront. Technically they do accrue it, so if she took a week off and then left the company after a month, they'd dock her pay for any time she technically didn't accrue -- which would be like 3.5 days she'd have to pay back.

Come to think of it, both my current job and last job were the same way. The job before that, however, you had to accrue it first.

 

[BeauJangles]

Yes, I'm for real. Why would I bullshit about this? It doesn't make any sense why I would do something like that. Honestly, I thought there were going to be rational people on AT that would be able to help a 20-something that just started working in the real world. I have no real experience to rely on to guide me through this so hence I created this thread. Now, I regret going against my instincts and just not ask. In an economy like this, the last thing that I want to do is to damage my own economic interests.

I don't know man. The conversation was roughly 5 min. long. As soon as he said no, I immediately tried to "save" myself by basically apologizing for asking and that I was under heavily influenced by my university friends. I told him I should have had better judgment. Then I apologized again and told him that I am committed to my work.

I take it you're fresh out of college.

1) You are fresh out of college. Don't tell your boss you're going to an alumni event. Be less specific and tell him it's a social event. By saying alumni event, you're giving the impression that you're still very much attached to your college which, in a boss's eye, translates to "drinks all night and doesn't give a fuck about what he does."

2) When you ask, be firm, but give him an easy out. Don't be wishy-washy.
Ex: "Hey boss, I have a social event that begins at 5:30 next Wednesday. Would it be possible for me to work through lunch that day and leave a half-hour (hour, whatever) early? I know it's been busy around here, so if that isn't possible I understand and it's no big deal.

3) When he says no, don't go making excuses. Why the fuck did you tell him that your "heavily influenced by your college friends?" You're fresh out of college. Bosses don't want drunken frat douchebags who pee on their beds at 4 am working for their company. You might not be that guy at all, but saying that you're influenced by your friends gives an incredibly bad impression.

4) Don't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. Only apologize when there's a reason. Nobody likes someone who can't stand up for themselves.

The better judgement thing was idiotic, too. You didn't do anything wrong.

If you had asked for a week off a week before you were leaving, that would demand an apology. Your request was reasonable. Obviously it's your boss's discretion to approve or deny it, but just because he doesn't want you to go doesn't mean you need to apologize. Just say, "okay boss / sir / whatever, I understand. Thanks for your time" or whatever.

 

[VinylxScratches]

Quit your job and go. Everyone knows this.

 

[CRXican]

In late but oh well. I recently did a three month stint at a job I ended up not liking very much (hence the 3 months) When I interviewed I knew I had a interview lined up elsewhere so when the first place said I could start working/training right away I told them I had an appointment coming up and they were cool with it.

Near the end of the three months at said job I wanted to leave early on a Friday to drive four hours to visit a friend. Not a pressing reason and I was honest about it. I was shot down. No good reason though and no coverage issues. It made my decision to quit that same Friday much easier.

In those three months I was committed and worked my butt oof even though I wasn't really liking the work. It's a shame that some employers have such a difficult time letting a hard working employee take a few hours off here and there. I wish someone could explain it.

I also understand that you were only there for a week but I probably would have asked to leave early just to see what happens. Now you know, no big deal. And unless those alumni friends are hooking you up with a better job, forget that crap. College is over.

 

[alkemyst]

Wow until your last line that was great.

I am still friends with many I went to school with and we all like our reunions too.

 

[lsquare]

You received legitimate advise here. What kind of person graduates from college, asks how to ask off from work, and feels like he put his job at risk just for asking off or to leave early? What we didn't know, is that your boss is either a fucking retard....or you have the social skills of a feral human and the way you asked off made him think you were the retard. All advise you were given was sound, by people who have real jobs.

Read what guyver01 said. I'm sick and tired of repeating myself here. I said what I said to my boss afterward because I panicked when he declined to allow me to leave work early. It's hard to think properly when I'm panicking.

 

[lsquare]

lsquare, I still don't know why you couldn't have just shown up 30 minutes late to your alumni event.

Are they going to lock the doors strictly at 530pm or something?

Please explain why showing up late was not an option for you.

It's not that it's not an option for me. I'm a punctual person and I always prefer to show up on time.

In hindsight, I should never have asked and instead show up late. I guess I'm learning this the hard way.

 

[lsquare]

Why won't you tell us what your job is?

Seriously, I've never had any problems with these kinds of requests. Heck, I've even been able to take entire weeks off with just a few days notice. In your case, it was just a really bad idea to ask after only being there for a week for an event which quite frankly, is not important.

Even still, your boss acted like an asshole. A simple "Sorry, I can't allow that right now" would have been sufficient. My wife has been at her new job for about 3 weeks and needed to leave early Thursday to come out to the house for a final walkthrough of some work some contractors did. Granted, that is far more important than an alumni event, but she had no problem leaving a couple of hours early.

Just work hard and produce good results, and it will be forgotten in no time. Don't listen to these guys that say "It has ruined your career there!!11!!!1!!!," as quite frankly, they don't know what they're talking about and are only correct if the company and your boss are REALLY awful. If you produce good results and they STILL hold a grudge for a simple request, this company isn't worth working for.

Does it really matter where I'm working at? The reason why I don't want to go into details is because I'm trying to maintain a degree of privacy. I don't know if my boss or colleagues uses AT. The damage has already been done and the last thing I want to do is to do more damage to myself. If you're skeptical about the line of work that I'm doing, then there is nothing more that I can do to change your views.

 

[Old Hippie]

Bummer it didn't work out but I know you've learned a lesson.

Hopefully your boss is a bigger guy than to let this stick in his craw.

Good Luck! :thumbsup:

 

[Born2bwire]

It's not that it's not an option for me. I'm a punctual person and I always prefer to show up on time.

In hindsight, I should never have asked and instead show up late. I guess I'm learning this the hard way.

Why should you have never asked? It's perfectly reasonable as long as you offered to adjust your schedule as minimally as possible and still work the full day. You only needed to leave a half-hour early, offer to come in early to cover the lost time, the boss says no, say thanks for your time and leave the office.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

This is why even though I'm training for the professional environment, I'll always appreciate the smaller positions more. Last week working on campus:

Me: Hey, I got a call from the Doctors office telling me they had a much earlier position open so I took it and I'll have to go around 9:30. Definitely be back by 11.

Boss: Ok man, I'll actually be leaving around 12:30 cause Mediacom is coming to install my new phone line today! Love this new faster internet!

Me: Cool, you just gonna leave a list for me?

Boss: Yeah man, good luck with your appointment.

Me: Alright, OH! Don't, forget, you need to install 4.1 on your iTouch now that its out since you're not choosing to jailbreak.

Boss: Already on 4.1? Wow I just did 4.0.2 last week! Thanks for letting me know. See you later!


I dont know why in all but the most critical of applications, that people have to be so unnecessarily rude with each other. We're all just trying to eek out a menial existence here.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Does it really matter where I'm working at?

I didn't ask where you worked; I asked what you do. Big difference.

The reason why I don't want to go into details is because I'm trying to maintain a degree of privacy. I don't know if my boss or colleagues uses AT. The damage has already been done and the last thing I want to do is to do more damage to myself. If you're skeptical about the line of work that I'm doing, then there is nothing more that I can do to change your views.

I think you're worrying WAY too much. As I said earlier, just work hard, produce good results, and nothing will ever be mentioned again.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Unless, you're working a hourly retail job, your boss sounds like a douche. If it wasn't this episode, he would show that he's a douche later on.

 

[nageov3t]

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!"

I guess it depends on the industry, but my experience has been the exact opposite.

when I worked at BK in high school, the only way you were leaving early or getting a day off on short notice was quitting. ditto for when I worked at a call center.

working in IT, my boss pretty much doesn't care as long as I put in my 40+ hours (technically, I don't even have scheduled hours... I generally work 8 am - 6 pm because it's what I want to work, but there's nothing in writing and my boss generally doesn't care as long as I'm in the office on the days that I'm scheduled to work)

I might roll my eyes a little bit if a new employee asked to come in/leave early once for something as silly as an alumni event, but I can't imagine firing them over it.

 

[Imdmn04]

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.

What kind of job is it? Is it based on hourly shifts (where you have to turn over a shift to the next person?) or is it a 9-5 white collar desk job?

If it is the latter, then your boss is a control freak.

 

[lsquare]

What kind of job is it? Is it based on hourly shifts (where you have to turn over a shift to the next person?) or is it a 9-5 white collar desk job?

If it is the latter, then your boss is a control freak.

lol, I can't believe you're even asking me this question. It's definitely a white collar job. I have my own desk with my own telephone and telephone number. Yes, it's a 9-5 position and I've already said in the op that I get off at 5 everyday.

 

[lsquare]

I think you're worrying WAY too much. As I said earlier, just work hard, produce good results, and nothing will ever be mentioned again.

Well, you weren't there to see how he looked when I made my proposition. I don't think I have a choice, but to work harder and hope that he forgets about this incident.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Well, you weren't there to see how he looked when I made my proposition. I don't think I have a choice, but to work harder and hope that he forgets about this incident.

If he is such an ass that he would remember this and hold this against you for any considerable length of time, start looking for another job. You don't want to work for an idiot like that for very long.

 

[Capt Caveman]

lol, I can't believe you're even asking me this question. It's definitely a white collar job. I have my own desk with my own telephone and telephone number. Yes, it's a 9-5 position and I've already said in the op that I get off at 5 everyday.

Then any boss wouldn't have given a shit. You have an ass of a boss.

 

[spidey07]

Then any boss wouldn't have given a shit. You have an ass of a boss.

Not really. When you're dealing with kids right out of school, especially at their first real job you need to set them straight. You don't ask for time off your first few months on the job unless it was discussed before the offer was made. Kids coming out of college don't quite get what it means to "work" and commitment to your job, so OP's boss sorta "nipped that attitude in the bud" so to speak.

All that matters here is he asked for time off on the 2nd week of the job, that is a no-no. Such a request should be denied based on principle - "WTF! This is your second week and you want to adjust your schedule or have time off? I'm not your professor here to appease you, I"m your boss."

 

[SludgeFactory]

It's not that it's not an option for me. I'm a punctual person and I always prefer to show up on time.

In hindsight, I should never have asked and instead show up late. I guess I'm learning this the hard way.

I think everyone there would have understood you being 30 minutes late, all you would have had to say was "I didn't get off work until 5."

First month or two is traditionally when you're supposed to bust your ass a little bit and make an impression -- and a lot of that is putting in your hours and not flaking. The boss is praying he didn't screw up in hiring you, and asking for time off in the first 2 weeks is a big red flag in his mind. You may be young and naive and not paying much attention, but everybody else is watching when everybody gets there and when they leave, and how much work they're doing.

Unfortunately, a lot of your peers have established your generation's reputation as being a bunch of whiny bitches with poor work ethic. Fair or not, that is on the mind of a lot of bosses these days as well.

 

[lsquare]

If he is such an ass that he would remember this and hold this against you for any considerable length of time, start looking for another job. You don't want to work for an idiot like that for very long.

I cannot say for sure that he is an ass. I barely even know him. I've only been there for a little more than a week.

 

[lsquare]

Not really. When you're dealing with kids right out of school, especially at their first real job you need to set them straight. You don't ask for time off your first few months on the job unless it was discussed before the offer was made. Kids coming out of college don't quite get what it means to "work" and commitment to your job, so OP's boss sorta "nipped that attitude in the bud" so to speak.

All that matters here is he asked for time off on the 2nd week of the job, that is a no-no. Such a request should be denied based on principle - "WTF! This is your second week and you want to adjust your schedule or have time off? I'm not your professor here to appease you, I"m your boss."

I think everyone there would have understood you being 30 minutes late, all you would have had to say was "I didn't get off work until 5."

First month or two is traditionally when you're supposed to bust your ass a little bit and make an impression -- and a lot of that is putting in your hours and not flaking. The boss is praying he didn't screw up in hiring you, and asking for time off in the first 2 weeks is a big red flag in his mind. You may be young and naive and not paying much attention, but everybody else is watching when everybody gets there and when they leave, and how much work they're doing.

Unfortunately, a lot of your peers have established your generation's reputation as being a bunch of whiny bitches with poor work ethic. Fair or not, that is on the mind of a lot of bosses these days as well.

I honestly wished you guys were one of the first few people that responded before I asked my boss rather than after I had asked my boss. Right now I'm not terribly excited about going to work tomorrow.